Will Vietnam And Tthe U.S. Become Friends Because Of China?

China’s Rise Pushes Old Enemies Together -- Financial Times

Nguyen Duc De knows at first hand how alliances can change. The former Vietnamese soldier was stationed on the disputed Spratly Islands in the 1980s, when tensions with China were high following their 1979 border war, and he used to take pot shots at the Chinese marines who approached his base, pretending to be fishermen.

When diplomatic relations between the Communist neighbours were restored in the 1990s, shooting was prohibited, he says, but, as China’s economic and military might has grown over the past decade, strains over contested islands in the South China Sea have been on the rise again.

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My Comment: Vietnam is dreaming if they think that the U.S. will jeopardize their relationship with China over a few islands in the South China seas. To put it bluntly .... China has over $1 trillion in U.S. debt .... and the U.S. know that they must 'toe the line' when it comes to disputes like China's and Vietnam's.

American Vietnam Veterans And Their Vietnamese Foes Find Common Ground

Former Foes Build Friendship Over Lost Soldiers In Vietnam -- FOX News

American Vietnam veterans have helped their former enemies find the remains of 81 soldiers in a mass grave, in the latest sign that the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship is as strong as it’s been since the end of the war.

The Vietnamese military said the U.S. vets helped them locate the grave of soldiers who died over 40 years ago, during what was believed to be a Vietnamese attack on an American base in the Central Highlands. U.S. veterans who served at the base gave the Vietnamese government a map of where they buried the soldiers, and the remains of four of them have been returned to their families. The remaining 77 unidentified remains have been buried in a local military cemetery.

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My Comment: It only took 35 years for the scars to go away .... better late than never.

Enemies Yesterday, Allies Today

Vietnam Memorial (Image from Wikipedia)

US And Vietnam Demonstrate Blossoming Military Relationship -- The Telegraph

Cold War enemies the United States and Vietnam demonstrated their blossoming military relations Sunday as a US nuclear supercarrier floated in waters off the Southeast Asian nation's coast.

The USS George Washington's stop, which comes 35 years after the Vietnam War, is officially billed as a commemoration of last month's 15th anniversary of normalised diplomatic relations between the former foes. But the timing also reflects Washington's heightened interest in maintaining security and stability in the Asia-Pacific amid tensions following the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, which killed 46 sailors. North Korea has been blamed for the attack, but has vehemently denied any involvement.

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More News On U.S. - Vietnamese Relations

Former enemies US, Vietnam now military mates -- AP
US carrier sits off Vietnam shadowed by the Chinese -- Scotsman
Concerned about China's rise, Southeast Asian nations build up militaries -- Washington Post
U.S. military goes back to Vietnam -- Don Surber, Daily Mail

My Comment: Who would have thought this was possible 35 years ago when Saigon felled to the Communists. I know that I never did.

China Surprised By U.S.-Vietnam Nuclear Talks

China Shaken By US Move To Sign Nuclear Deal With Vietnam -- Times of India

BEIJING: China, which has recently dominated the security situation in North Asia, appeared shaken by a surprise move by the US administration to begin negotiations for a civilian nuclear deal with Vietnam.

Washington has confirmed it in negotiation a deal with Vietnam similar to the one it has signed with India. The move has implications for India, which faced Chinese resistance to its nuclear deal with the US. India is also wary about what it regards as China's non-transparent move to sell two more nuclear reactors to Pakistan.

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Previous Post: U.S. - Vietnam In Nuclear Talks

More News On China's Reaction To U.S.-Vietnam Nuclear Talks

U.S., Vietnam Hold Talks on Sharing Nuclear Fuel, Drawing China Criticism -- Bloomberg
Chinese scholars concerned over US-Vietnam N-talks -- Indian Express
US, Vietnam nuke deal could be 'destabilizing', unsettle China: Experts -- Sify News
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu's Remarks on US-Vietnam Nuclear Cooperation -- China's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
Vietnam in nuclear talks with US -- Sydney Morning Herald
US, Vietnam in nuclear negotiations -- AFP
U.S. Won't Rule Out Vietnamese Uranium Enrichment -- Global Security Newswire
U.S. Confirms Nuclear Negotiations with Vietnam -- CRIEnglish
Vietnam denies nuclear talks -- Straits Times

My Comment: The Chinese are not the only ones who are surprised .... I am personally in shock.

U.S. - Vietnam In Nuclear Talks

US And Vietnam In Controversial Nuclear Negotiations -- The Guardian

Nuclear agreement would be without usual restrictions on enriching uranium imposed on other nations.

The US is said to be negotiating a controversial agreement with Vietnam to provide nuclear fuel and technology without the usual constraints on enriching uranium to prevent proliferation.

The deal has been under discussion for several months following Hanoi's announcement of plans to build 14 nuclear power stations over the next 20 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.

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More News On U.S. - Vietnam Nuclear Talks

U.S., Hanoi in Nuclear Talks -- Wall Street Journal
US, Vietnam in advanced nuclear negotiations: report -- AFP
US, Vietnam in nuke talks -- News24
US 'in nuclear talks with Vietnam' -- Al Jazeera
U.S., Vietnam Pursuing 123 Agreement -- CSIS
U.S.-Vietnam Atomic Deal Said to Permit Uranium Enrichment -- Global Security Newswire

My Comment: This will not only undercut nonproliferation efforts, but a guarantee to rile China.