VIEW ON MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATIES. AS THIS IS WHAT HIS POSITION WAS AS GENERAL AND PRESIDENT.
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BUT WE KNOW WHAT THIS COUNTRY FEELS ABOUT FRIENDLY COUNTRIES................ CJW

Relations with US navy not aimed at ‘balancing power’ in East Sea
Last update 20:56, Monday, 16/08/2010 (GMT+7)
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Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

VietNamNet Bridge – Though the recent activities of the US Navy in Vietnam are very normal, biased reports and comment in some newspapers may have misled readers, says the Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh. Vinh was interviewed by Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) after the US guided missile frigate John S. McCain paid a friendly visit to Danang and Vietnamese officials visited the US aircraft carrier George Washington.



US naval ship docks at Da Nang port
Vietnamese officials visit US carrier
15th anniversary of Vietnam-US relations


Vietnam’s defence policy is based on mobilizing our own strength to protect the motherland and maintain our independence, Vinh emphasized. We don’t participate in any military alliances or take the side of one country against another; we are ready to be a friend and reliable partner with all countries, he said.



The deputy defense minister pointed to naval ties with China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand that emphasize cooperation in joint patrols, establishment of hotlines and rescue activities.



Developing naval relations with China is a Defence Ministry priority, said LTG Vinh, bringing practical benefits for both countries in the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreed by Party and State leaders of the two nations.



The foreign press has recently printed stories to the effect that “Vietnam and US hold joint navy manoeuvres,” “US aircraft carrier visits Vietnam ” or “ Vietnam enhances power balance in East Sea.” Such comments are groundless and misunderstand Vietnam’s defence policy, said Vinh.



The development of naval ties with the United States is in line with Vietnam’s policy of developing defence relations, particularly naval ties, with all countries. Thus Vietnam has accelerated and upgraded defence strategic dialogue with countries such as India, South Korea, Singapore and Russia.



Vietnam will hold defence dialogues at the deputy ministerial level both with the US and China, Vinh added. The first such deputy-ministerial dialogue between Vietnam and the US will take place in Hanoi on August 17, pursuant to an agreement reached between the two countries’ defence ministers last year.



The deputy minister said he hoped public opinion and media will be interested in the dialogue and cover the event exactly.



Following is the text of the interview LTG Vinh gave Quan Doi Nhan Dan (QDND).



QDND: The USS John S. McCain visited Da Nang on August 10, just a day or so after Vietnamese officials visited the US carrier USS George Washington. Could you share details?



Vinh: Under Vietnamese law and the Party and State’s defense policy, every year we welcome foreign military vessels to Vietnam. The reception is organized by local authorities, in combination with local military units.



Early this year, the US expressed a wish to send a military vessel to Vietnam on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations and we agreed. In early August, the USS John S. McCain entered Da Nang Port. This visit and activities of American crew were conducted according to an agreed program to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship.



Also in early August, while the USS George Washington passed nearly 200 nautical miles from Da Nang, transiting international sealanes through Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, the US invited a delegation from Da Nang and local army units to visit the carrier.



That’s a normal activity for the American navy. When its ships pass near countries they have a relationship with, a delegation is often invited to visit aboard. They show their goodwill and their advanced military technologies. Many countries, prominently including China, Thailand and some other ASEAN countries have sent groups to visit US vessels. In April 2009, officials from Vietnam visited another American carrier when this vessel passed near Vietnam.



We accepted the American invitation to show our goodwill and to confirm our sovereignty over the exclusive economic zone under the international law. This was also a chance for our defence officials and soldiers to learn about the US Navy’s advanced military technology.



The above activities are conducted within the framework of Vietnam’s independent and self-determined foreign policy. Vietnam is willing to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries.



QDND: Could you talk more about Vietnam’s naval exchange with other countries?




USS John S. McCain vessel landed at Tien Sa Port, Da Nang City on August 10.




Vinh: Vietnam has good naval relationships with countries like China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. We carry out cooperative activities like joint patrols, setting up hot lines and cooperation in search and rescue. These are very successful, enhancing friendship between Vietnam and its neighbors and building a peaceful and stable environment in the region.



Developing naval cooperation with China is a priority in Vietnam’s defence foreign policy. It benefits both countries. We have exchanged high-ranking delegations, organized exchanges between naval officers, conducted joint patrols, set up a hot line and, most recently, held a search and rescue manoeuvre on sea.



We are developing defence relations with the US on a mutual benefit basis and according to the principles of our foreign policy.



Besides the visits of US naval ships, we welcome the naval vessels of India, France, Australia, Japan and other nations. Developing naval relations is part of our policy to develop defence foreign relations, in particular naval relations, with all countries.



QDND: What’s your view of the recent comments of some local and foreign newspapers on naval relations between Vietnam and the US recently?



Vinh: The recent activities of the US Navy in Vietnam are quite normal, activities that take place annually, but because information and comments in some newspapers has been inaccurate and biased, their readers may have misunderstood.



First, inaccurate headlines like “ Vietnam and US hold joint navy manoeuvres,” “US aircraft carrier visits Vietnam ” or unspecific information about activities of US naval ships makes readers misunderstand the relations between the two navies.



Second, the USS McCain’s visit to Vietnam and our group’s visit aboard the US carrier were implemented under international practice and were scheduled well in advance. Coincidentally, they took place in the context of arguments among big countries about the East Sea. As a result, some Western newswires said that Vietnam strengthens naval relations with the US to “enhance the power balance in East Sea”. This is a groundless and misunderstanding comment about Vietnam’s defence policy.



Vietnam’s defence policy is to rely on its own strength to protect the motherland, to maintain our independence and autonomy, to not join any military alliance or to take one country’s side against another.



Third, some foreign news agencies that lack goodwill about Vietnam-China relations reported one-dimensional, biased information suggesting that “Vietnam imitates the US,” etc. Such information doesn’t help relations between Vietnam-China and is contrary to the strategic interest of both. It has a negative effect on the peaceful, stable environment in the region. This is irresponsible information that makes the matter become complicated.



Fourth, because they lacked information, some newspapers in Vietnam also reported inaccurately about this matter. Regrettably, the media didn’t visit a necessary address – the Ministry of Defence – to get accurate information about this event and similar matters.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/reports/201008/Relations-with-US-navy-...‘balancing-power’-in-East-Sea-929428/