US-Vietnam Relations on an Ascending Trajectory
Brig (rtd) Vinod Anand
The year 2015 is expected to be a turning point in the evolving strategic and economic
relationship between the two nations. While assertive behaviour of China in South China
Sea can said to be one of the motivations behind US and Vietnam coming closer there are
other very valid reasons and logic for both to forge stronger ties.
This is despite the fact that the US and Vietnam fought a war not very long ago, when
Vietnamese forces drove out the Americans from their country in 1975. Diplomatic
relations were established between the two in 1995 due to changing strategic
environment and converging interests. The relationship gained further momentum in 2013
when both sides announced a comprehensive partnership for moving their ties to a new
level. Moreover, Vietnam is one of the few ASEAN countries that are participating in the
US initiated Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement negotiations. TPP is
considered as the economic pillar of America’s ‘rebalance to Asia’ strategy.
Last year in May a bilateral civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement was signed which
reflected greatly the confidence reposed by the US in a Communist country that is now on
the reform path. Of course, the American companies would stand to benefit from the
construction of nuclear reactors in Vietnam. Also, Hanoi agreed to join the US sponsored
Proliferation Security Initiative which it had earlier refused to join as the same is not part
of the UN System.
May 2014 was also the time when there heightened tensions between Vietnam and China
because of the state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) moved a
large exploratory oil rig HD-981 to area within Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Though
China also lays claim to the area. However, US State Department stressed that the oil rig
should withdraw as positioning the rig was tantamount to change of status quo. Similarly,
US along with Vietnam, Philippines and some other countries have objected to China’s
reclamations activities in Spratly Islands which have accelerated in the past few months.
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Trade between the two for the year 2014 has surpassed 34 billion from about 220 million
USD in 1994. Vietnam has become the second largest source of US imports of clothing and
some other household accessories. Vietnam’s exports to the US have exceeded those to
the EU in 2014 thus making the US as the top export market. Shift to a market oriented
economic system in the late eighties and thereafter a sustained economic growth
enabled Vietnam to achieve a trade surplus with the US which stood at around 19 billion
US dollars in 2013 and is expected to be around 20 billion for 2014.
Further, in terms of ease of doing business rankings released by the World Bank, Vietnam
is ahead countries like China, Brazil and India. And therefore, Vietnam has become an
attractive destination for American investments.
Frequency of high level political changes has increased since President Bill Clinton’s visited
Vietnam in the year 2000, a first by any American president. Vietnam’s Prime Minister
Phan Van visited the US in June 2005; thereafter political and diplomatic exchanges have
been on the upward trajectory. But what is going to mark the beginning of a new phase of
bilateral relationship is the forthcoming visit of the Vietnam’s Communist Party Secretary
General Nguyen Phu Trong to the US in July. This would be first such visit by the top
Communist Party leader of Vietnam to the US indicating the distance both countries have
travelled over the years to forge a mutually beneficially relationship despite differing
political systems.
While moving closer to Washington Vietnam takes great care in balancing its relationship
with China. As a prelude to the forthcoming visit to the US Nguyen Phu Trong visited
Beijing in April to mend its souring relationship with China arising out of South China Sea
imbroglio. Beijing is also concerned with Vietnam moving closer to America and becoming
part of its strategic design in Asia-Pacific. Though party to party relationship between
China and Vietnam is considered to be on an even keel Beijing appears to be unwilling to
let go of what it calls its ‘core interests’ in South China Sea.
Meanwhile the US has been increasingly coming out in denouncing China’s approach to
the vexed issue of South China Sea. During Shangri La Dialogue held towards the end of
May the United States Secretary of Defence,
Ashton Carter emphasised that “The
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United States is deeply concerned about the pace and scope of land reclamation in the
South China Sea, the prospect of further militarisation, as well as the potential for these
activities to increase the risk of miscalculation or conflict among claimant states”. Calling
for a halt of such reclamation activities he added that the US will conduct surveillance
flights over South China Sea and continue to protect the right of freedom of navigation
and overflight. He also favoured an early conclusion of Code of Conduct by China with the
ASEAN.
After the Shangri La Dialogue, Ashton Carter visited Vietnam on first June to strengthen
defence ties and mil to mil relationship. As a first step, the US has agreed to provide 18
million dollars to Hanoi for acquisition of patrol boats for the Coast Guard for enhancing
its maritime security. Cooperation in defence and security is likely to be further upgraded
with lifting of embargo on export of lethal arms. Republican Senator John McCain,
Chairman of the Armed Services Committee has recommended sale of lethal arms to
Vietnam though some concerns still exist regarding this in the US.
Overall, the US-Vietnam relationship is poised to enter a new era with the forthcoming
visit of Vietnam’s Communist Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong to the US. 2015 is
also the year when both countries are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the
normalization of bilateral ties which is in direct contrast to what happened four decades
earlier. As a reciprocal gesture President Obama may also visit Vietnam thus taking the
relationship to a new high.
In so far as Indian perspective is concerned New Delhi has been supporting freedom of
navigation, adherence to UNCLOS and adoption of a Code of Conduct by all parties in
South China Sea. This supports stand taken by both US and Vietnam. Strengthening of USVietnam relations are expected to contribute to strategic equilibrium in the region.
ITS – Institute for Transnational Studies
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ITS – Institute for Transnational Studies
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Copyright © 2011 by:
ITS – Institute For Transnational Studies
ITS – Institute for Transnational Studies
Gabelsbergerstraße 28a
84034 Landshut/Germany
Tel.: +49 871 / 96 52 66
ITS – Institute for Transnational Studies
Löfflerweg 21 •
39030 Gais/Italy
Tel.: +39 0474 504 237
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www.transnationalstudies.org
Copyright © 2011 by:
ITS – Institute For Transnational Studies