*Don't you think the Vietrnamese are smart?*
On Monday, May 23, 2016 at 4:44:25 PM UTC-7, Khmer Forum wrote: > > *Obama lifts decades-old arms ban in his 1st visit to Vietnam* > > *NANCY BENAC <http://www.ap.org/>* > May 23, 2016 > HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday lifted a > half-century-old ban on selling arms to Vietnam, looking to bolster a > government seen as a crucial, though flawed partner in a region that he has > tried to place at the center of his foreign policy legacy. > *Obama announced the full removal of the embargo at a news conference > where he vowed to leave behind the troubled history between the former war > enemies and embrace a new era with a young, increasingly prosperous nation. > Obama steered clear of harsh condemnation of what critics see as Vietnam's > abysmal treatment of dissidents, describing instead modest progress on > rights in the one-party state. Activists said his decision to lift the > embargo destroyed the best U.S. leverage for pushing Vietnam on abuse.* > "At this stage, both sides have established a level of trust and > cooperation, including between our militaries, that is reflective of common > interests and mutual respect," Obama said. "This change will ensure that > Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself and removes a > lingering vestige of the Cold War." > Obama also has more current motivations. His move was the latest step in a > yearslong and uneven effort to counter China's influence in Asia. Obama's > push to deepen defense ties with a neighbor was certain to be eyed with > suspicion in Beijing, which has bristled at U.S. engagement in the region > and warned officials not to take sides in the heated territorial disputes > in the South China Sea. > Obama claimed the move had nothing to do with China, but made clear the > U.S. was aligned with the smaller nations like Vietnam. > The United States and Vietnam have mutual concerns about maritime issues > and the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China > Sea, he said. While Washington doesn't take sides, he said, it does support > a diplomatic resolution based on "international norms" and "not based on > who's the bigger party and can throw around their weight a little bit > more," a reference to China. > China outwardly lauded the lifting of a U.S. arms embargo, saying it hoped > "normal and friendly" relations between the U.S. and Vietnam are conducive > to regional stability. A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said > bans are a product of the Cold War and shouldn't have existed. > China itself remains under a weapons embargo imposed by the U.S. and > European Union following 1989's bloody military crackdown on pro-democracy > demonstrations centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. > For Vietnam, lifting the arms embargo was a psychological boost for its > leaders. The United States partially lifted the ban in 2014, but Vietnam > has pushed for full access as it tries to deal with China's land > reclamation and military construction in nearby seas. > It was unclear whether striking the ban would quickly result in a boost in > arms sales. Obama said that each deal would be reviewed case by case and > evaluated based on the equipment's potential use. But there would no longer > be a ban based on "ideological division," he said. > "There's been modest progress on some of the areas that we've identified > as a concern," Obama said, adding that the U.S. "will continue to speak out > on behalf of human rights we believe are universal." > Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang embraced the chance to enter a new era > in U.S-Vietnamese relations. He praised the expansion in security and trade > ties between "former enemies turned friends" and, standing next to Obama > before reporters, called for more U.S. investment. > Ahead of the visit, in what was seen as a goodwill gesture, Vietnam > granted early release from prison to a prominent dissident Catholic priest. > Some U.S. lawmakers and activists had urged the president to press the > communist leadership for greater freedoms before lifting the arms sale > embargo. Vietnam holds about 100 political prisoners and there have been > more detentions this year. In March, seven bloggers and activists were > sentenced for "abusing democratic freedoms" and "spreading anti-state > propaganda." Hanoi says that only lawbreakers are punished. > "In one fell swoop, President Obama has jettisoned what remained of U.S. > leverage to improve human rights in Vietnam — and (has) basically gotten > nothing for it," Phil Robertson, with Human Rights Watch, said > > -- > > Best Regards, > > *Khmer Forum* > *A place for sharing community events and public news.* > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. 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