Wow, some of the estimation about US pushing Vietnam into US camp is WAY OFF. Why do we need Vietnam to be with the US camp, if the goal is simply to contain China?
Well, nobody will believe me if I say US is not to push any country around, but hey...So, let's just talk about US pivot to Asia and the global containment of China, shall we?
The question is not whether or not US force Vietnam into their camp, there are no ifs or buts, US does not need Vietnam into US camp to counter China. American current strategic allies (namely Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and Taiwan) have
3 Fleet carrier
7 Small carrier (4 LHD from US, 2 LHD from Japan and 1 LHD from South Korea)
100+ Destroyer and Frigate (35-40 AB destroyer from US, 26 Destroyer and 17 Frigate from Japan, 12 Destroyer and 11 Frigate from ROKN, 10-12 Frigate from RAN, 6 Frigate from Singapore and 4 Destroyer and 22 Frigate from ROCN)
64 Submarine (30 submarine from US Navy, 16 submarine from JMSDF,13 Submarine from ROKN, 6 Submarine from RAN, 7 Submarine from Singaporean Navy and 2 Submarine from ROCN)
I mean, it's not that US don't want Vietnam or India, in some extend to the US camp, but US simply don't need to if the objective is simply to contain China, China cannot match the current US strategic Allies output number by number, pound by pound.
The US do not need India or Vietnam in US camp to counter China, US can take China and its allies in Asia alone with the already Strategic allies, but for that to happen, other country in SCS and Asia need to stay out of the way and play neutral.
Russia, on the other hand, would swing either way, they could be neutral in SCS or they could be helping the Chinese, but the problem is, the US can accept certain degree of Russian Help toward China to break the containment, but a large scale help on the table would upset the balance. However, coming back to the issue about Russia helping China on the table. Why would Russia do that?? If Russia get involve directly , both US, China and Russia would be damaged a significant heaps in the mess, along with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia to some degree, however, since US is not even based on Asia, their damage can be replace rather quickly, assuming such a conflict will not turn to nuclear scale.
But with Russia sideline themselves, and sitting afar and watch US having a go at China and damage each other would serve the Russian interest a lot more than helping China. SO why push Russia into the equation by pushing India and Vietnam out of their sphere of influence??
The ball, contrary to most Chinese member here said. Is in Vietnam hand. US don't need Vietnam to be in US camp, I mean sure, it would be nice for US if they have more allies, but that would have to be up to Vietnam themselves. If Vietnam want to be in the US camp, then things have got to change, if not, that's fine too, as long as Vietnam stay neutral in the pivot thing. So this is up to Vietnam, not US to determine how close they want to get.
@Viet @BoQ77 @Carlosa @Peter C