In US-Vietnam Naval Exercises, A Message to China
The U.S. and Vietnam are conducting joint naval exercises in the South China Sea this week, and “if Vietnam War planners from the 1960s and early ‘70s had taken a time machine from then and arrived today, they would be ecstatic about the relationship that has emerged between the United States and Vietnam – positive feelings, strong economic ties, and now ever closer military-to-military relations,” says Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl “With China beginning to flex its muscles in the South China Sea, Vietnam and the United States are becoming ever closer partners. Although both countries are stating publically that their joint naval exercises are not addressed at China, it is quite obvious that they are. After China declared the South China Sea as a core interest, was only a matter of time before the other claimants on the same space moved closer to the United States, the global guarantor of open seas, in response. So much for the domino theory!”
Jamie is in New York. To arrange an interview, contact the Asia Society communications department at 212-327-9271 or [email protected].