US doesn't care about Vietnam: Top 7 reasons
1. Vietnam is a communist country. The US has NEVER signed a defense treaty with a communist nation.
2. In 1974, South Vietnam was a US ally. The United States did nothing as China took over the Paracel Islands in 1974.
3. The United States has proclaimed forty years of neutrality in the South China Sea. In the latest incidents, the United States publicly proclaimed neutrality in June and December of 2014.
4. The United States is downsizing the Army to 450,000 troops. The United States will match the post-World War II low in Army strength. The United States does not plan to fight a war.
It is impossible to fight against China's 2.2-million PLA Army with only 450,000 troops.
Army Veterans Recall Layoffs from Previous Eras | Military.com
"Army Veterans Recall Layoffs from Previous Eras
Sep 10, 2014 | by Brendan McGarry
...
After rising to 570,000 soldiers in 2008 during the war in Iraq, the Army has less than 520,000 soldiers today and is on pace to shrink to 490,000 soldiers by next year. It's bracing for even further reductions driven by automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.
The Pentagon's proposed budget for 2015 calls for the service's end-strength to decrease to 440,000-450,000 soldiers by 2017. If sequestration remains in effect, the number may fall to as low as 420,000 soldiers -- tens of thousands less than the figure the Army's top officer, Gen. Raymond Odierno, said is needed to respond adequately to conflicts around the world."
5. The Pentagon insists on protecting its ties with China.
US Army Protects China Ties Despite Tensions | DefenseNews
"US Army Protects China Ties Despite Tensions
By Joe Gould | 10:17 p.m. EST March 4, 2015
...
Amid reports the Pentagon has paused efforts to expand defense ties with China until the two nations can agree on rules for airborne encounters between their warplanes,
Gen. Vincent Brooks, chief of US Army Pacific (USARPAC), said he received no instructions to reduce his engagements with the People's Liberation Army.
...
The US Army will continue to receive Chinese official visits at US Army Pacific headquarters, plan events with the Chinese and maintain ties under the 'sufficient latitude' that policy guidelines provide, Brooks said.
The command, for example, is in talks to hold exchanges between mid-career officials from the two nations.
'We don't want to have transactional engagements with one another, where we only come together when we need something," Brooks said. "We need to have more substantial relationships that can be built over time.'"
6. US gave Vietnam a paltry $28 million in military aid for 2014. $18 million for five patrol boats and $10 million for demining operations. In contrast, Israel received $3.4 BILLION.
Israel Hayom | Israel aid remains untouched in 2014 US budget proposal
"Apr 11, 2013 - Israel would receive $3.4 billion in total military aid under the 2014 U.S. budget proposal sent to Congress by President Barack Obama on ..."
7. China is a very important market to the United States. US carmakers sold 4.6 million cars in China (GM: 3.5 million; Ford: 1.1 million). In contrast, US carmakers sold only 19,000 cars in Vietnam last year.
Ford, GM post double-digit sales gains in China | Automotive News
"Ford, GM post double-digit sales gains in China
January 8, 2015 - 7:03 am ET
SHANGHAI (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co. and General Motors posted double-digit sales gains in China last year, the automakers reported this week.
Ford and its Chinese joint ventures sold 1.11 million vehicles, up 19 percent from the previous year, Ford said today.
...
Meanwhile, GM and its Chinese partners sold a record 3,539,970 vehicles in China in 2014, up 12 percent from the previous year, the U.S. automaker said on Tuesday."
Vietnam's automotive sales leap 43% in 2014: trade association
"Thaco was the market leader with the number of cars sold hitting 42,339 vehicles in 2014, followed by Toyota (40,820),
Ford (13,988), Honda (6,492), and
Vietnam GM (5,134)."