US Seeks Vietnamese Base to Counter China

[T-Rex]

William Wan, Malcolm Moore
June 5, 2012



CAM RANH BAY: The United States' most senior defence official has visited Cam Ranh Bay in a symbolic return to what was a vital naval base for the US in the Vietnam War. The US is attempting to return a military presence to this strategically important Vietnamese port as part of its push to expand its naval presence in Asia and the Pacific.

The Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, is the highest-ranking US official to visit Cam Ranh Bay since the war ended in 1975.

The bay and its airfield was one of three main hubs used by the US in the war. It is one of the South China Sea's best natural harbours, and the US hopes to use it to boost its naval presence and counter the rise of China's navy.
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''Access for United States' naval ships into this facility is a key component'' of the US's relationship with Vietnam, ''and we see the tremendous potential here'', Mr Panetta said on Sunday, standing on the stern of a naval supply ship anchored near the bay's entrance.

The vessel, the Richard E. Byrd, is one of only a handful of US ships to be allowed back to Cam Ranh Bay, which lies about 320 kilometres north-east of Ho Chi Minh City, since diplomatic ties resumed in 1995.

It is unarmed and sails with a largely civilian crew, a requirement of the Vietnamese government, which has prohibited military ships from docking in the bay since 2002 when the Russians closed the base they maintained after the US departure.

''This is a very emotional moment,'' Mr Panetta said. ''Last Monday, I stood before the Vietnam memorial [in Washington] to recognise the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.''

He said a ''great deal of blood'' had been shed in the war, but the two countries had come a long way, particularly in regard to their relationship on defence. Last year, the US and Vietnam signed an agreement on defence co-operation, and during this visit Mr Panetta met his Vietnamese counterpart, the Vietnamese Defence Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh, to discuss further links.

In that meeting, General Quang Thanh said Hanoi will open three new sites for excavation by the US to search for troop remains. At the announcement, the two leaders exchanged artifacts collected during the war.

US officials said this was the first time such an exchange of war artifacts had occurred, Associated Press reported.

Speaking earlier, Mr Panetta said: ''It will be particularly important to be able to work with partners like Vietnam; to be able to use harbours like this as we move our ships from our ports on the [US] West Coast, [and] our stations here in the Pacific.''

The US Navy plans to switch from a 50-50 deployment in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific, to having 60 per cent of its ships in the Pacific by 2020 as it ''pivots'' towards Asia to contain China's rising military capabilities.

In recent months, China has had a number of spats with its neighbours in the South China Sea, where several countries have territorial claims.

Mr Panetta said the US would maintain six aircraft carriers in the region and mentioned the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter and the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine that can operate in deep and shallow waters.

These weapons would allow the US to move in areas where access was denied, he said, perhaps referring to China's policy of keeping the US at a distance from its shores with ''carrier-killer'' anti-ship missiles and submarines.

China has repeatedly warned the US not to interfere in Asia.

''The South China Sea is not America's business,'' the deputy chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army, General Ma Xiaotian, said recently. ''It is between China and its neighbours.''

Read more: US seeks Vietnamese base to counter China

 

[Martian2]

There is a reason that India, Vietnam, and other countries that border China do not permit U.S. military bases.

The surest way of inviting an all-out attack by China is to host an U.S. military base. The crazy U.S. neo-cons may someday decide to start a war with China. If the neo-cons lose, the U.S. military will simply pack its bags and leave (e.g. see Vietnam War).

However, China will exact a price from a belligerent country for hosting an U.S. military base. Since the anti-China host country has supported an attack on China, China will carve a buffer zone out of the host country to prevent another attack on China by the U.S.

I think 20% of the anti-China host country's territory is fair payment to ensure another aggression against China does not occur.

 

[danger007]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ mr false flagger, US base in India is against our India's interest...that is why we don't want US base in our land...... not because of some Idiot will attack if we allow US base..... Do you know what you are talking..... Without security pact US won't instal it's base..... If you attack a country which has/had an defence pact with US....that means you are Inviting SUPER POWER to fight.....

 

[Martian2]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ mr false flagger, US base in India is against our India's interest...that is why we don't want US base in our land...... not because of some Idiot will attack if we allow US base..... Do you know what you are talking..... Without security pact US won't instal it's base..... If you attack a country which has/had an defence pact with US....that means you are Inviting SUPER POWER to fight.....

U.S. cannot beat China in a land war on China's periphery. The Vietnam War proved the point. After 15 years of battle, the exhausted American military went home.

The PLA is completely different from the primitive Vietnamese military. An U.S. engagement against China's modern military machine will be short. The American military will last about 15 weeks in a land war against China before being overrun.

 

[T-Rex]

U.S. cannot beat China in a land war on China's periphery. The Vietnam War proved the point. After 15 years of battle, the exhausted American military went home.

The PLA is completely different from the primitive Vietnamese military. An U.S. engagement against China's modern military machine will be short. The American military will last about 15 weeks in a land war against China before being overrun.

The problem is countries like Vietnam and india think that somehow the US will prevail in case of a military conflict between China and the US,no matter where it takes place. Now, that is a stupid assertion because it takes too many things for granted.

 

[dunhill]

U.S. cannot beat China in a land war on China's periphery. The Vietnam War proved the point. After 15 years of battle, the exhausted American military went home.

The PLA is completely different from the primitive Vietnamese military. An U.S. engagement against China's modern military machine will be short. The American military will last about 15 weeks in a land war against China before being overrun.

Well, it depends ...

[If] Japan, Vietnam, Korea [both], Philippine has the same amount of US arsenal has then China can not stand still for last 15 days for war.

Looking back the days Japan ruled China. Does Japanese needed to take any longer days for controlled China?

The problem is countries like Vietnam and india think that somehow the US will prevail in case of a military conflict between China and the US,no matter where it takes place. Now, that is a stupid assertion because it takes too many things for granted.

That what you think and believe whatever you want.

 

[Martian2]

Well, it depends ...

[If] Japan, Vietnam, Korea [both], Philippine has the same amount of US arsenal has then China can not stand still for last 15 days for war.

Looking back the days Japan ruled China. Does Japanese needed to take any longer days for controlled China?

You also didn't read my posts. For the last time, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Philippines have no strategic depth. You guys are not serious military opponents.

By the way, you've forgotten that China is the world's third-largest thermonuclear power. They could always drop a city-buster on Tokyo or Seoul and finish the war in ten seconds.

India is a pain in the neck. I have no idea how to control one million square miles of enemy territory indefinitely.

 

[Korean]

By the way, you've forgotten that China is the world's third-largest thermonuclear power. They could always drop a city-buster on Tokyo or Seoul and finish the war in ten seconds.

And Beijing gets nuked in return, so there is no one left to enjoy the victory in Beijing.

 

[Martian2]

And Beijing gets nuked in return, so there is no one left to enjoy the victory in Beijing.

Last time I checked, Japanese and South Koreans don't have even atomic weapons; let alone thermonuclear weapons. Care to post a Japanese or Korean atomic or thermonuclear test?

I hate delusional Korean nationalists. They live in a fantasy world.

 

[Korean]

Last time I checked, Japanese and South Koreans don't have even atomic weapons;

No, they have a guarantee from the US that US will retaliate with nukes if they are nuclear attacked. It's called nuclear umbrella. This is how the US persuaded these countries to not build their own nukes.

I hate delusional Korean nationalists. They live in a fantasy world.

And the world hates falseflaggers like Martian2.

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Stop nuking each other you naughty boys! Do you want to become as evil as Americans? Only uncivilized barbarians (the West) use nuclear weapons. If we all become like them, what kind of world will we live in?

 

[Martian2]

No, they have a guarantee from the US that US will retaliate with nukes if they are nuclear attacked. It's called nuclear umbrella. This is how the US persuaded these countries to not build their own nukes.


And the world hates falseflaggers like Martian2.

God, you're dumb. Neville Chamberlain also had a piece of paper. What is it worth? That's right, a piece of paper.

A nuclear umbrella only works against weak North Korea or Iran. Under mutually assured destruction (MAD), the United States will not risk its own existence to save your tiny worthless country. U.S. cares a lot more about Americans than Koreans or Japanese.

Did you notice the lack of a single U.S. bomb being dropped during the Russo-Georgian War? Do you know why? U.S. was too afraid to escalate against Russia and risk MAD. China has plenty of thermonuclear weapons too. The U.S. will not antagonize China because of a silly piece of paper.

When China gets serious, the U.S. will stay as far away as possible.

 

[Korean]

A nuclear umbrella only works against weak North Korea or Iran.

It worked against the Soviet Union in 1969, a country far more militarily powerful than China of 2012.

the United States will not risk its own existence to save your tiny worthless country.

That is what the Missile Defense is for, the US ICBMs strike Beijing while Chinese ICBMs are intercepted.

When China gets serious, the U.S. will stay as far away as possible.

You need some education on history to realize how foolish you are.

 

[Martian2]

It worked against the Soviet Union in 1969, a country far more militarily powerful than China of 2012.


That is what the Missile Defense is for, the US ICBMs strike Beijing while Chinese ICBMs are intercepted.


You need some education on history to realize how foolish you are.

No, you do not know the correct historical events. China faced the Soviet Union under its own thermonuclear power.

The Sino-Soviet border war was in 1969. China exploded its 22-kiloton atomic bomb in 1964 and its 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb in 1967. China was already a thermonuclear power before the Sino-Soviet clash of 1969.

Here is a video of the 22-kiloton Chinese atomic explosion in 1964.

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Here is a video of the 3.3-megaton Chinese thermonuclear explosion in 1967.

 

[Korean]

I think you can find many in South Korea who see South Korea as a ***** of the west.

You won't find any.

No, you do not know the correct historical events.

Surely I do.

The Sino-Soviet border war was in 1969. China exploded its 22-kiloton atomic bomb in 1964 and its 3.3-megaton thermonuclear bomb in 1967. China was already a thermonuclear power before the Sino-Soviet clash of 1969.

And Chinese nukes were not battle ready and China had no means to deliver it to the Soviet Union. This is why the Soviet Union decided to nuke China and informed Nixon as such, until the Soviets received the stunning "nuclear umbrella" reply from Washington DC.