U.S. shouldn’t hesitate to use its leverage in dealing with Vietnam

[大汉奸柳传志]

President Obama shakes hands with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the White House on Tuesday. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
By Editorial Board July 8 at 7:41 PM

THE COMMUNIST government of Vietnam is a problem. First and foremost, it is a problem for the people of Vietnam, who still suffer political repression despite the market-oriented economic reforms that have added commercial bustle to daily life and helped lift many Vietnamese out of poverty. Forty years after the fall of Saigon, there has been no gradual transition to multiparty democracy; there are still 110 political prisoners, as well as widespread censorship, in the Southeast Asian nation.

Consequently, Vietnam’s regime is also a problem for those who favor both a robust pro-human rights stance in U.S. foreign policy and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement — of which Hanoi would be the only low-wage authoritarian member. Other things being equal, the Obama administration’s decision to include Vietnam in TPP would be indefensible; ditto for President Obama’s Oval Office welcome this week to the Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, an honorific visit for a man who is his nation’s political strongman, not an actual government official. “There continue to be significant differences in political philosophy and political systems between our two countries,” Mr. Obama said after that meeting, which is one way to put it.

Other things, though, are not equal. The United States already trades with Vietnam, to the tune of roughly $30 billion per year. TPP is potentially a good deal for the U.S. economy because it cuts tariffs, and Vietnam’s tariffs on U.S. goods are higher than U.S. tariffs on Vietnamese goods. The agreement will commit Vietnam to respect the rights of its workers; it’s a paper commitment, to be sure, but does add to the legal basis for both U.S. human-rights diplomacy and the demands of Vietnam’s activists.

Meanwhile, there are strategic considerations: Vietnam and the United States share an interest in checking China’s aggressive moves in East Asia, which makes them natural partners despite the war the United States once fought to prevent the likes of Mr. Trong from taking over the then-divided country. As the history of Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines shows, democracy in Asia flourishes with the support and stability that a strong U.S. security presence provides.

Taken together, economics and geopolitics can justify taking what is already a substantial U.S.-Vietnamese diplomatic relationship to the next level, TPP — on one condition. The Obama administration and its successors must treat closer ties as a means to the overriding end: greater freedom, political as well as economic, in Asia. Vietnam has eased up on its dissidents in the past year, releasing 50 of 160 prisoners of conscience in 2014. This represented not fundamental change in Hanoi, but an effort to mollify U.S. critics of Hanoi’s inclusion in TPP. Still, opportunistic or not, this shift shows that Hanoi needs us — maybe more than we need them. That gives the United States leverage, which it must not hesitate to use on behalf of those brave Vietnamese who do not share their rulers’ “political philosophy.”

U.S. shouldn’t hesitate to use its leverage in dealing with Vietnam - The Washington Post

 

[TaiShang]

Now, now... The jewels are already being scattered. Soon Vietnam might be asked to pick a color and a name for its baby revolution.

 

[Sommer]

"Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."
I don't seen that will be a problem for USA.

 

[TaiShang]

Vietnam-US bond less rosy than it appears
2015-7-8 0:58:09

Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is visiting the US from Monday to Friday. Western media have overly interpreted his visit from a geopolitical perspective. They consider the tour as a joint diplomatic ritual by the US and Vietnam against China and also another US victory in countering China strategically.

Some US observers and public intellectuals may want to include Vietnam in the US's camp against China. This target seems to be always just on the horizon, but forever unreachable.

Washington wants Hanoi to coordinate with its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and enhance its pressure on China, while Hanoi hopes inching closer to Washington can help it deal with Beijing over the South China Sea dispute. But this doesn't represent the entirety of the US-Vietnam relationship.

Vietnam has undergone increasing political pressure that has originated in the US, which poses a long-term challenge to its stability. Deep inside, Vietnam wants to move closer to the US, while holding back somewhat, hence it is unlikely to completely embrace the US as the Philippines does.

It's natural that Vietnam develops its relations with the US. The US has wide clout in Southeast Asia and is one of Vietnam's largest export destinations, and meanwhile Vietnam has to address the West's political penetration. In this case, keeping sound relations with the US will serve Vietnam's national interests. This expectation will be strengthened by the current South China Sea dispute.

However, while Vietnam considers China is a challenge to its national security, it also enjoys the economic driving force from China as well as support from China's communist system.

Like China, Vietnam's primary strategy is to promote economic and social development and it will be an optimal result for Vietnam if this strategy doesn't go against the South China Sea disputes.

China need not make a fuss as Vietnam and the US develop normal relations. In this globalized time, no bilateral relationship is exclusive. It would be an exaggeration to say that better relations between China's neighbors and the US mean China is losing ground.

The closer ties between Vietnam and the US are partly aimed at China, which will entail countermeasures from China. This will bring pressure on the three sides, but as it evolves, Vietnam may become the one that suffers most.

So far, no country has benefited from inviting the US to weigh in on its disputes with China. In fact, this will be doomed to failure.

 

[cirr]

Vietnam is an intelligent woman with self-esteem who should refuse to be a rich man's plaything。

 

[AndrewJin]

Revolution of beef pho?

 

[S10]

Vietnam being split back into two halves wouldn't be a bad idea from China's perspective. As soon as they reunited in 1974, Vietnam started becoming hostile since it no longer required support from China. At least one side from a half crippled and divided Vietnam will have to eat out of China's hands. It's better for China geopolitically than having a united Vietnam as an American pawn.

 

[Beast]

That is why we see VCP party head still visit China on Xi's invitation. That is why VCP suppress any anti China activities in vietnam.

Vietnam appear rosy with US but she is aware of the snake.

 

[tranquilium]

Geez, the traditional American "surprise" backstab to allies came a bit too quickly this time, even by US standards. Heck, US waited at least a decade before backstabbing USSR and China (okay, it is less than a decade for USSR), but five years is the least it can do for Vietnam.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

No viet members commenting??Do they really hate the VCP like the article says?

Cmon @LacViet let's hear what your big mouth has to say!

 

[Steve781]

You do know the Washington Post doesn't make government policy?
Just because your media is a mouthpeice it doesn't mean everyone else's is.

 

[LacViet]

No viet members commenting??Do they really hate the VCP like the article says?

Cmon @LacViet let's hear what your big mouth has to say!

There is kiddo game here my Cantonese friend. Mr. Ngyen don't let Mr. Xi to deal a policy bussiness related to us in back of Vietnam like what China did in the past.

Vietnam being split back into two halves wouldn't be a bad idea from China's perspective. As soon as they reunited in 1974, Vietnam started becoming hostile since it no longer required support from China. At least one side from a half crippled and divided Vietnam will have to eat out of China's hands. It's better for China geopolitically than having a united Vietnam as an American pawn.

To divide Vietnam in to two part is China's intention. China did it in Korea 1953 and shaked hands secretly with France 1954 in Vietnam war.

So why Kim Song Il said that "China is turncoat and our enemy". This is true betrayal mantality of Chinese.

 

[dichoi]

Vietnam is an intelligent woman with self-esteem who should refuse to be a rich man's plaything。

Your comment reminder me to Jiang Qing of China.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

@Hu Songshan the OP is falsifying the title attributed to the Washington Post. The actual title in reality is "
U.S. shouldn’t hesitate to use its leverage in dealing with Vietnam"

Edit: Thanks Jango

 

[tranquilium]

It is actually worse, the Chinese have something we called "Selective Journalism"

Do remember when Washington Post post some Anti-Chinese article and those Chinese member jump in and say They are the propaganda piece of America and should not be trusted? Article like Chinese Stock market and general recession or cooling of industrial expansion.

But suddenly they are gospel for them when the WP said something they can use?? lol You can either trust one source or don't, you can't trust the one you like and don't trust the one you don't like, simply you cannot have the cake and eat it.


On topic, why US want to topple a regime which is WORKING on closer ties with the US? What the article said does not make any sense.

and @Peter C beats me to it, the OP change the title for maximum effect.

Washington Post is a conservative media, reflecting the point and interest of conservatives in United States. So it makes sense for Washington post (or any US media really) to publish anti-China articles.

At the same time, being a conservative media, it also reflects the opinion of republican party on Vietnam. While the current Democrat administration wants closer tie to Vietnam, Obama's 8 years term didn't exactly leave a wonderful impression, hence there is a good chance the democrats will not be in office in 2016. So, you can see where this is going.

The typical anti-China articles in Washington post and this one are all designed for American readers and express the opinion of conservatives. The reality of China is not going to be affected by the opinion, hence is propaganda when publishing about China, but upcoming US policy regarding to Vietnam IS affected by the opinion, hence it has weight.