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Vietnam military mobilizes 180,000 personnel, aircraft, ships to cope with storm Tokage

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/38242...nnel-aircraft-ships-to-cope-with-storm-tokage

TUOI TRE NEWS
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The path of storm Tokage

The Vietnamese military has put nearly 180,000 people, aircraft, ships and other equipment on standby to cope with the influences of a storm forecast to cause rough seas, flood, and land subsidence this week.

About 179,276 soldiers and paramilitary men are now ready to help local governments and residents along the coast to cope with storm Tokage brewing in the East Vietnam Sea.

The military has mobilized 16 ships, 46 boats, five aircraft, 686 cars of multiple types, 33 specialized vehicles, over 1,600 tarpaulin house sets, 30,000 life jackets, and other equipment for any rescue missions.

As of Sunday afternoon, the defense ministry had ordered border soldiers along the coast from Quang Binh Province to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to coordinate with local governments and residents to inform 58,000 ships and 380,000 employees of the developments and path of the storm.

Almost 1,200 ships and 10,000 employees are operating in the middle and north of the East Vietnam Sea, including Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Others are fishing or anchoring along the coast.

Storm Tokage is forecast to weaken to a tropical low-pressure system, causing rough seas in the northern part of the East Vietnam Sea, including Hoang Sa, on Tuesday night, weather forecasters said.

At 7:00 pm on Sunday, the storm was striking an area 650km east of Hoang Sa, packing winds of 75-100km per hour.

The storm will move west-southwestward at 10-15km an hour in the next 24 hours, brewing 380km east of Hoang Sa at 7:00 pm on Monday night. Winds of up to 60-75km per hour are predicted near the storm’s eye.

In the following 24-48 hours, the Tokage will head west-southwestward at 15-20km per hour before weakening to a tropical low-pressure area.

At 7:00 pm on Tuesday night, the center of the low-pressure system will be 260km south of Hoang Sa, carrying winds of up to 40km per hour.

The northern part of the East Vietnam Sea, including Hoang Sa, will be hit by strong winds, rough seas and high waves due to the tropical low-pressure system.

The region from Da Nang City to Khanh Hoa will experience heavy rain from Wednesday to Friday, possibly accompanied by flash floods and land subsidence.

Later, rain will strike the area from Nghe An Province to Thua Thien Hue Province.
 
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this news will bring smile to our people, but probably disappoints some :sarcastic:

for the first time ever, a 110kV power 24.5 km cross-sea transmission line is constructed bringing electricity to a remote island: Lai Son island in the gulf of Thailand. next logical steps will be bringing as many island as possible into national grid, although I believe our islands in Spratlys are too far away. all in all, Vietnam installed power generation capacity is expected to surpass of Indonesia (50 GW) in 2-3 years.

 
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85 in 2018 and doubling that in 2024
Do you any source to back your claim?

Indonesia installed power generation capacity right now is 50 GW, but some other say only estimated 45 GW. That means we will surpass your capacity by this year. Your government struggles to add the capacity by a 35 GW program, with the aim to increase to 90 GW by 2022. Anyway whatever the case, I think Indonesia as largest country in ASEAN, you are the first benchmark for us to take :D we still have a long way to go.

Some Chinese sites outright stole my footage of a wasp in VPAF Su-30 cockpit.

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http://mil.sohu.com/20161125/n474123269_1.shtml
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2016-11-25/doc-ifxyawxa2718634.shtml

Would our friend @GS Zhou care to give them some feedback if possible?
You sound a bit disappointed. I believe it is not necessary bad if your picture is posted in other places as long as credit is given.
 
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You sound a bit disappointed. I believe it is not necessary bad if your picture is posted in other places as long as credit is given.
"Some Chinese sites outright stole my footage"

Meaning they took it and erased our watermark, you can see the blurry part in the middle. I have no problem with people take our footage and give credit properly.
 
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I guess Comcom attract lots of interest from our neighbor :v

Coastal training season is around the corner.

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ACCULAR missiles rack, deployed on truck

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Type 63 tank column. Dont have any new parts since 1979 but still rolling.

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Close view of them.

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12.7mm recoil while firing.
 
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Ahead of Vietnam defence minister's visit, India allows its top envoy to visit under-construction aircraft carrier

India is upgrading its defence ties with Vietnam, even as the country looks at India to augment its naval force.

Aditya Bhat
November 28, 2016 19:04 IST



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India and Vietnam are looking to closer defence partnerships. In Picture: Vietnamese Ambassador in India visited the under construction IAC.Twitter/indiannavy


Even as China continues to encircle India in the name of economic initiatives like the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), One Belt One Road (OBOR) and other projects, India is looking to counter these moves. Thankfully, India has found a reliable friend in Vietnam which like India shares its enmity with the powerful China. And as the ancient proverb goes, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" functions well for both, India and Vietnam.

India will soon be rolling out red carpet welcome for Vietnam's defence minister Ngo Xuan Lich on December 3. This visit is important even as India and Vietnam deepen their military co-operation which has already been upgraded to that of strategic partnership.


RELATED


Ahead of Lich's visit, Vietnam's top envoy in India, Ton Sinh Thanh, Vietnam's ambassador in India interacted with Indian Navy officials in Kochi. A tweet from the official account of Indian Navy revealed Thanh's visit to the under-construction Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). The IAC is being constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited.

This picture reveals that India and Vietnam have a high level of trust between them and there could be a possibility of Vietnam opting for India-made aircraft carrier sometime in the future. But more importantly, Vietnam is interested to take the help of India to better its defence industry.

India has been training Vietnamese submariners to operate the six newly purchased Kilo submarines from Russia. India already uses several Kilo submarines. Vietnam is looking to India to train its pilots for the recently-acquired 36 Su-30MK2 fighter jets from Russia, something in which India has expertise, after Russia, as it operates a large fleet of Su-30MKIs, an Indian variant.

"Vietnam would be seeking replication of the success of cooperation between the two navies with the Army and Air Force as well. We would definitely like to hear them as they are our strategic partners," said officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to the New Indian Express.

The proposal to train pilots has not taken off due to financial limitations. Nevertheless, India announced two new credit lines for defence purchases - $100 million and $500 million. In June, Indian ship builders, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) were handed over the bid document to build Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for Vietnam. There have been reports that suggest the possibility of Vietnam buying Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos to guard its 3,444km coastline from the rising Chinese aggression in South China Sea.

Under the India Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, India has allotted 50 slots to personnel from Vietnam to train in India.

While India had to lose to China in land war, Vietnam has never lost against them. Vietnam is looking to develop a stronger naval force and develop its defence industry. Vietnam has offered India five oil and gas blocks in the South China Sea to India for exploration, which does not go well with the leadership in Beijing.

India has intensified its interactions and is partnering with South East Asian countries as part of its Act Asia Policy, changed from the earlier Look East Policy. Vietnam is said to be New Delhi's crucial link to the region and beyond.

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Is Vietnam Reigniting a Fire in the South China Sea?
Hanoi is starting to feel more and more isolated as its regional neighbors reconcile with China.

By Nguyen Quoc-Thanh
November 29, 2016

http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/is-vietnam-reigniting-a-fire-in-the-south-china-sea/

With Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to reset ties with China, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s decision to put his country in the Chinese orbit, the situation all around Vietnam is evolving very rapidly. China also signed agreements for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road with Cambodia in mid-October, not to mention their joint military exercise scheduled for December. Together, these rapprochements are seen by the Vietnamese as coming at the expense of their country, which is now “isolated” by land and sea.

Things have gotten worse and worse for Hanoi only five months after The Hague international tribunal’s verdict; the latest developments in the South China Sea (SCS) have shifted in Beijing’s favor. One by one, Vietnam’s neighbors have looked toward China and now seek conciliation. The legacy of U.S. President Barack Obama’s “pivot to Asia” seems distant, especially since President-elect Donald Trump has declared his intention to cut back the U.S. role as “world policeman.” At this time, no one can predict anything about Washington’s future role in Asia. Trump criticized Obama’s Asia policy during his campaign and now, Asian leaders are still waiting to see the U.S roadmap for the region under the next president. Will Trump lead America to an isolationist foreign policy? A year ago, Harry Kazianis imagined the consequences for U.S allies if America walked away from Asia. This scenario seems now potentially realistic.

In this context, it seems that Vietnam prefers to anticipate and plan to protect itself, including militarily. But by extending an airplane runway and building hangars for housing combat aircraft in the Spratly Islands, Vietnam has raised tensions. In August, the country already deployed rocket launchers to its bases in the SCS. Is such an offensive stance justifiable?

In the past years, Vietnam has notably increased its military spending. The trauma caused by the battle of the Paracel Islands in 1974, when ships of the People’s Republic of China sunk those of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), runs deep. The Vietnamese requested assistance from the U.S Seventh Fleet but their request was denied. As Vietnam doesn’t want to repeat the experience of relying on foreign help that may not come, the country has forged a defensive army for deterrence. For months, Hanoi has waited for a strong signal from Washington, especially since the lifting of arms embargo. But with the end of Obama’s presidency and, most likely, the end of his “pivot to Asia policy,” the future is uncertain for Vietnam, even if the partnership between U.S and Vietnam remains strong.

Under a Trump presidency, U.S. withdrawal from Asia is an unlikely but possible scenario. The European Union could have helped to disentangle regional conflicts in Washington’s stead, but European unity has been wracked since the Brexit – not to mention domestic factors such as the coming French presidential election and the next German federal election. In any case, Europe is busy dealing with tension over migrants and the Syrian civil war issue.

Help will not come from the outside and all indications are that the Vietnamese are now on their own. The solution could have been ASEAN unity but it has shattered lately, most recently during the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting. Together, these factors contribute to increase Vietnam’s sense of insecurity. “We must react now or later would be too late,” said an officer of Vietnam People’s Navy.

The 1974 battle resulted in Chinese control of the entire Paracel Islands group and Vietnam clearly does not want history to repeat itself in the Spratly archipelago. A list of national possessions in the Spratly archipelago has been published on former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s website. It is a way of showing that Vietnam is clearly determined to defend its claims.

No country in Southeast Asia knows China as well as Vietnam, which shares both maritime and land frontiers with this giant neighbor. China rising power in Asia is a worrying issue for Hanoi, and not even bilateral dialogues with Beijing have succeeded in reassuring the Vietnamese. For 2015, Vietnam’s defense budget was $5 billion and it may rise again as long as the Vietnamese feel insecure.

At the 8th SCS International Conference in Nha Trang, participants insisted on respect for international law and their desire for peace. But even with Duterte’s apparent allegiance to China, peace remains precarious in the South China Sea. A fire can reignite at any time with just a spark.

Nguyen Quoc-Thanh holds a Ph.D. in Maritime Studies. IrAsia, Aix-Marseille University.
 
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Between an Uncertain Duterte and Trump and a Powerful China, Vietnam Sees Stability in ASEAN

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/duterte-trump-china-vietnam-asean_us_58361b9ee4b09b6056002121
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Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Prior to Trump’s victory at the polls, the U.S.-Vietnam relationship had been on a steady path toward improvement.
PERTH, Australia ― As the world catastrophizes about what a Trump presidency means for global security and stability, Vietnam and the Philippines are marking one year since the signing of a strategic partnership that signaled Hanoi’s attempt to further solidify its ties in the region.

But following the clinch of this bilateral pact in 2015, Southeast Asia witnessed numerous landmark developments. The Philippines won its arbitration case against China, another heavyweight in the region, over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and elected a new, less predictable leader ― Rodrigo Duterte. And the friend both nations share, the United States, has now chosen its own unpredictable head of state ― Donald Trump.

While these changes have altered the dynamics of the region and Duterte and Trump work to develop their foreign policy strategies, Vietnam has thus far remained friends with both the U.S. and China. And as it works to balance relations with these two nations, Hanoi is hoping the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, will play an important role in any further disputes in the South China Sea and provide some balance to any instability.

The U.S. and Vietnam
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Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

Obama recently made an official visit to Vietnam.
Prior to Trump’s victory at the polls, the U.S.-Vietnam relationship had been on a steady path toward improvement since the end of the war and the resumption of diplomatic relations. Within the last year, U.S. President Barack Obama made an official visit to the country and lifted the arms sale embargo that had been implemented during the Cold War. In many ways this was one of the last hurdles to full normalization.

Today, however, this increased understanding between the two nations is on hold as Vietnam, and the world, assesses the significance of America’s power shuffle. What might a Trump presidency mean for this improved relationship, especially given his blunt critique of Beijing on the campaign trail? As with most Trump policies, many are still unsure, but with Vietnam’s departure from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and Trump’s announcement of a U.S. withdrawal as well, it is clear Vietnam is apprehensiveabout its friendship with the United States.

And the U.S is not the only country that Vietnam is wary of. Vietnam must also factor in the Philippines’ Duterte’s off-color and outlandish comments. His “pivot” to China and tough anti-U.S. rhetoric have left many wondering if this means another regional shake-up, and for Vietnam, yet another reason to place faith in ASEAN.

Why Vietnam Is Hopeful About ASEAN
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Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

The organization serves as a valuable channel for discussion and cooperation past Southeast Asian bilateral engagement with larger powers.
ASEAN is a useful forum and whilst the “paper tiger” has little to directly add to U.S. and China’s differing stances in the South China Sea, it is at least a (sometimes) unified Southeast Asian voice.

While nothing is guaranteed, the organization serves as a means for discussion and cooperation past Southeast Asian bilateral engagement with larger powers. It also attracts the attention of more influential and larger countries worldwide. China and America look at it for engagement purposes, Australia has tried to gain membership and even Russia has begun to engage with the body more heavily as well.

For Vietnam, however, ASEAN is not only a general regional stabilizer, but a forum that helps Hanoi manage aspects of its relations with the U.S. and the Philippines.

And Vietnam certainly understands diversification of ties ― it is one of the tenets of the nation’s foreign policy and it has greatly increased the number of its strategic partnerships from 2011 to 2015. Its partnership with the Philippines is being watched possibly more closely since both the Hague ruling and Duterte’s words. Any change to the U.S. alliance and U.S. presence in the region would be concerning to Hanoi.

As I reported a few months ago, Vietnam’s reaction to the Philippines’ win on the South China Sea ruling in the Hague’s Permanent Arbitration Court was muted. This response, however, was not because Hanoi had sided with Beijing, but merely that antagonizing its large and thwarted neighbor would have been a bad move. And those watching would have noticed many nations stayed quiet, some members of ASEAN included.

‘For a country like Vietnam ... the most challenging issue is how to construct and maintain the balance among the big powers.’ Dinh Hoang Thang, Vietnam’s former ambassador to the Netherlands
“For a country like Vietnam and the Philippines, the most challenging issue is how to construct and maintain the balance among the big powers,” Vietnam’s former ambassador to the Netherlands Dinh Hoang Thang, who has been known to publicly comment on South China Sea disputes, said at a conference in Tokyo. “And here I don’t see the big differences between the approach of the Philippines and Vietnam.”

The partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam goes beyond that of merely a tangential shared interest in the balance of powers. In fact, as clear through their recent strategic partnership, the two nations have taken a more direct approach to cooperation with a focus on ASEAN’s role in their relationship.

ASEAN and its importance is a central tenet of the Joint Vision Statement, or JVS, signed by Vietnam and the Philippines as part of the signing of their strategic partnership on Nov. 17 of last year. The JVS made particular note to place ASEAN at the center of the relationship between the two nations in order to maintain, “peace, stability and security in the region.”

This, of course, could be optimistic considering the distinct lack of consensus at the 2012 and 2015 summits and recent shows of bilateral friendship between ASEAN members and China, including a defense deal between Malaysia and China.

But the efforts to maintain the group remain strong, and just recently, Vietnam held a conference focusing on maritime tensions. According to reports from Viet Nam News, the conference “stress[ed] the need to promote ASEAN’s central role in managing disputes in the East Sea.”

Dog Days of Duterte
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Hoang Dinh Nam// Reuters

For Vietnam, a strong Chinese influence over the Philippines could change ASEAN in favor of China.
ASEAN is a forum for varied nations to cooperate, reinforcing multilateralism, consensus and cooperation ― all things Vietnam values. Does Duterte value those things? Although Duterte has gained international media attention for his unpredictability, he is also next in line to be the chair of ASEAN, whose summit will be held in the Philippines in 2017.

What Duterte believes about ASEAN then matters too, not just his off-the-cuff anti-U.S. rhetoric. And tighter relations between the Philippines and China could potentially undercut this. An actively pro-China Philippines, if it is at the cost of other members, could harm unity within the organization and counteract Vietnam’s efforts to use ASEAN to balance out powers in the region, particularly since Vietnam views the multilateral ASEAN as a useful counter to China’s growing influence on issues such as the debates over the South China Sea territory. For Vietnam, a strong Chinese influence over the Philippines could change the organization in favor of China.

From the perspective of the Philippines, however, Duterte’s pivot to China may help to salvage the country’s economy in spite of a Donald Trump presidency, a concern which may be at the forefront of Duterte’s mind more than it appears.

Since the U.S. election, Duterte has publicly congratulated Donald Trump. “Long live, Mr. Trump! We both curse at the slightest of reasons. We are alike ... I don’t want to quarrel anymore, because Trump has won,” he said. And while he may not want to “quarrel,” experts in the region speculate this does not mean he is unaware of the potential harm Trump may cause the Philippines were a close relationship to continue.

Despite worries of his own erratic behavior, President-elect Trump may end up saving the Philippines’ relationship with the United States.
As Ernesto Pernia, a professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, pointed out at a press conference held by Duterte’s cabinet, the nation’s economy may be adversely affected should Trump push on with tariffs for U.S. firms, many of which operate in the Philippines.

“[Duterte] foresaw that there’s this likelihood of Trump becoming president, so he decided to pivot to China,” Pernia, also economic planning secretary, said at the presser. This pivot to China is also about protecting Filipino livelihoods and “diversifying [the Philippines’] friends,” he added.

Duterte, of course, has reason to be cautious of Trump, even if he feels they are like souls. Will this rebalance the relationship with the U.S.? Who can say yet? However, Duterte’s anti-U.S. sentiment is not new, and a real push towards China would concern Hanoi. The reactive personalities of both, compared with the measured words of the Obama administration, would be a concern also.

Fracturing Friendships: Philippines’ Pivot to China
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AFP via Getty Images

Duterte has indicated he may move his country closer to China.
Improving Philippine relations with China is something ASEAN, Vietnam and the U.S. all saw as initially important. But Duterte has moved the rhetoric one step further, suggesting the U.S. should leave the Philippines, wanting to discontinue the alliance all together and possibly move closer to China.

In fact, Vietnam has already begun worrying about the Philippines’ pivot. The potential shift towards China has caused,“Vietnam’s assurance in the steadiness of the Philippines [to slip],” The Nikkei Asia Review wrote earlier this month.

Vietnam and the U.S. were not expecting the Philippines, a formerly close friend of the U.S., to make such a sudden change, especially post-arbitration against China, and both the U.S. and Vietnam worry that the brash decision may not be the last under a Duterte administration.

Murray Hiebert, a senior Southeast Asia analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington has suggested that Vietnam did not entirely sign up for the confusion of a Duterte administration.

“Vietnam was quite enthusiastic about its new-found friend in the Philippines under Aquino, but Duterte’s constant emotional outbursts against Washington has them a bit concerned,” he told Reuters.

Then again, just as Vietnam and the Philippines signed their strategic partnership deal under an older administration, Duterte’s ire has been reserved for the current U.S. president, not the president-elect. He has, as I wrote, praised the man. If that can surmount Duterte’s U.S. skepticism or the two develop an unlikely friendship, all may not be lost. So despite worries of his own erratic behavior, President-elect Trump may end up saving the Philippines’ relationship with the United States.

‘China now has an incentive to push diplomacy to consolidate its presence in the South China Sea’ Carlyle Thayer, Vietnam expert at the Australian Defence Force Academy
In fact, some regional experts note that better China relations may end up profiting East and South Asian nations.

Emeritus Professor Carlyle Thayer, a Vietnam expert at the Australian Defence Force Academy, has said that he believes that a Philippine swing to China will actually have the benefit of calming the region, and possibly quieting an aggressive China.

“Ironically, Duterte’s current pivot to China will likely depress Chinese assertiveness and further militarization of the Spratly islands,” Thayer wrote in a briefing last month. “... China now has an incentive to push diplomacy to consolidate its presence in the South China Sea.”

The combination of Trump’s election, and whatever implications that may have for the future of relations in the region, along with Duterte’s unpredictability leave Vietnam to pin hopes for stability in the region on ASEAN, far away from such fiery, personality-driven politics. But as trade relations in the region fluctuate, it will be interesting to see where the new year will lead.
 
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Vietnam And Cambodia Military Ties Mature
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32577/vietnam-and-cambodia-military-ties-mature/
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Vietnam’s Major General Le Hien Van and Defense Minister Tea Banh at yesterday’s gathering of senior military officials. KT/Ven Rathavong

Since 1980, Cambodia has sent nearly 17,000 military officials for training in Vietnam, which has inspired Defense Minister Tea Banh to pose the idea of an alumni gathering for all military officials who have received overseas training.

General Meas Sam Ol, director of the Defense Ministry’s personnel department, said yesterday during a gathering of military officials who have trained in Vietnam that 4,895 military officials received long-, medium- or short-term training in Vietnam from 1980 until 1989.

He added that from 2002 until the present, 12,068 military officials have received training, with 10,230 already graduated and 1,038 still studying.

Gen. Sam Ol said the officials studied all skills related to military procedure.

Major General Le Hien Van, deputy director of the Vietnam People’s Army’s general department of politics, said at the alumni gathering: “Until present, more than 15,000 Cambodian military officials have studied at institutes of the Vietnam People’s Army.

“This figure is very significant and reflects close cooperation and efficiency between both countries’ armies for building and training human resources and enhancing army development,” he said, adding that more than 1,000 Cambodian military officials are now studying long term in Vietnam.

He added that they could use their knowledge to develop Cambodia upon their return.

In front of 1,200 officials who trained in Vietnam, Gen. Banh said: “We will provide an opportunity for all trainees [military officials] who have studied in other countries. If you all want to hold an alumni gathering, we will do it.”

He added that officials have been sent to study in Russia, Australia, the US, China and other countries. He said he would support a gathering of students who have trained overseas.

In June, Vietnam’s National Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich paid a visit to Cambodia and pledged to expand military cooperation, continue providing training to army officials and build human resources in the military sector.
 
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since you ask for a quiz, then lets do a quiz.

Vietnam's military spending today is about 2% of China's spending on military. So if you want to achieve 10% of China, your military spending needs to boost to 5x of the size today. Assume the military spending vs. GDP ratio remains unchanged, that means your GDP needs to increaase to 5x of the size today. Now lets assume a 7% GDP growth rate for Vietnam, 1.07^24 = 5.07, i.e. Vietnam needs 24 years to make its military spending equivalent to 10% of China's spending TODAY.

China is also growing during the same period. Assume a 5% GDP growth rate of China, and China's military spending vs. GDP ratio also remains unchanged. 1.05^24 = 3.23. I.e. China's military spending at that time will be 3x of its amount today! That means, after 24 years of rapid economy development, Vietnam successfully grows its military spending from 2% of China in 2015 to 3% of China in 2039. Congratulations!

BTW, you can argue Vietnam has the potential to enhance its military spending rate. Vietnam today spends 2.3% of the GDP on military, looks like plenty of room for further enhancement. Yes, that's a possible choice. But when you consider this option, pls don't forget China only spends 1.9% of its GDP on military.
I was thinking for a while of how to respond. Initially you remembered I raised the question how much Vietnam defence budget should be to address the security threat we are facing. My estimate is about 1/10 of China. Yes, you are right. It is virtually impossible because first the economic disparity between the two countries is huge, and second even if we do so, our economic development will stall. That is not what we want. Our opponents may want to see us to start an arms race, but that is a trap we want to avoid to enter. Remember, traditionally Vietnam is a pacifist country.

But if you answered my quiz, you would have found partly the solution for Vietnam. But right now, also that scenario is unrealistic. So what is the solution for Vietnam? or I think that is the way to go. Actually that is already happening as we speak. If you find the answer, you will surprise me :-)
 
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The last Kilo sub for Vietnam (187 Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu) is being loaded onto Rolldock Storm heavy transporter. Expected delivery is mid January 2017.

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