Pentagon: U.S. Vows to ‘Deepen Defense Cooperation’ with Vietnam amid China Tensions

During a meeting in Washington on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich agreed that an American aircraft carrier would sail to Vietnam next year, marking the first such visit since the Vietnam War ended in 1975.

America’s growing alliance with Vietnam will likely irritate China, which has greatly expanded its influence in Vietnamese territories in the South China Sea.

“The [U.S.] Secretary and the [Vietnamese] Minister of Defense agreed to deepen defense cooperation, including by expanding maritime cooperation,” reveals the Pentagon in a statement. “The Ministers also directed their staffs to work toward arranging a first [U.S. aircraft] carrier visit to Vietnam once technical conditions permit.”

Secretary Mattis told Minister Xuan Lich that strong defense cooperation is based on mutual interests that include freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

“The two leaders agreed that a strong U.S.-Vietnam defense relationship promotes regional and global security,” adds the Pentagon. “This relationship is based on mutual respect and common interests, including the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and globally, respect for international law, and recognition of national sovereignty. The [U.S.] Secretary welcomed Vietnam’s engagement and growing leadership in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Mattis and Lich discussed expanding U.S.-Vietnamese defense cooperation as President Donald Trump’s administration is trying to pressure China to do more to rein in North Korea, which has recently threatened to attack the United States.

Last Saturday, China did sign up for tougher United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

Nevertheless, Beijing has chosen to stay on the sidelines of the latest North Korea-U.S. crisis.

Ignoring territory claims in the South China Sea region from U.S. allies Vietnam and the Philippines, China has built various military facilities in the Spratly and Paracel Island areas.

Reuters reports:

Vietnam has won the promise of a visit from a U.S. aircraft carrier and deeper defense cooperation from the United States as strains show with China over the disputed South China Sea.

Within Southeast Asia, Vietnam has become an increasingly lonely voice in challenging Chinese claims to the vast majority of the waterway and was forced to suspend some offshore oil drilling last month after pressure from Beijing.

U.S. officials, echoing Asian countries like Vietnam, have disputed China’s reclamation of seven reefs and its military installations in the South China Sea.

Last month, Breitbart News learned that U.S. President Donald Trump had approved a Department of Defense (DOD) plan that will allow regular challenges to China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Some Asian countries, like Vietnam, are trying to cozy up to India, China’s regional military and economic rival, believing that the Trump administration is growing closer to New Delhi and farther apart from Beijing.

“Beijing has been irritated by Vietnam’s growing defense relationships with the United States and rival Asian powers, including Japan and India,” notes Reuters. “Tension has risen since June, when Vietnam infuriated China by drilling for oil and gas in an offshore block that Beijing disputes. The exploration was suspended after diplomatic protests from China.”