Why a First US Aircraft Carrier Vietnam Visit Matters (US Carrier now in Danang, for five days)

The Diplomat ^ | March 01, 2018 | By Prashanth Parameswaran

[cba123]

Just an addendum:

The carrier is now in Danang.

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In the next few days, a U.S. aircraft carrier will make a port call in Vietnam's coastal city of Danang for the first time since the end of the Vietnam War. Though the move has long been in the works and is just a single engagement, it nonetheless bears noting given its significance for U.S.-Vietnam ties, U.S. defense policy, as well as the region more broadly.

The idea of a U.S. aircraft carrier visit to Vietnam has been in the works since last year and first surfaced publicly in the context of the meeting between Vietnam's Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in August 2017 (See: "US-Vietnam Defense Relations Under Trump Get A Boost With First Aircraft Carrier Visit"). Both sides have since been finalized details over several subsequent meetings and have been keeping specifics close to the chest. Before the sensationalist headlines tied to the expected visit of the USS Carl Vinson roll in, it is important to understand the broader significance of the visit on three fronts.

(please see link for full article)

[cba123]

Wish both sides in this visit, a long and positive relationship.

[cba123]

https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/why-a-first-us-aircraft-carrier-vietnam-visit-matters/

[Rashputin]

Ah, not just a day or two. So, Danang is going to love them long time.

[Mark17]

I don’t think the Vietnamese like the the Chinese much. Maybe they are sending a message to China.

[laplata]

You’re right, the Vietnamese do not like the Chinese.

Did you ever get up to Da Nang? I spent two crappy days at the airport there. We were socked in.

[Davy Crocket]

Rocket City!

[mindburglar]

They’ve been fighting and beating the Chinese for a thousand years. It’s also the biggest deep water port outside of HK that is on China’s doorstep.

This is, indeed, hugh and yuge.

[ThanhPhero]

Đà Nãng is a beautiful city now.

[ThanhPhero]

Việt Nam has been trying to put itself under American protection for twenty years. Clinton's one good act was the opening to Việt Nam. Clinton and Bush used the Vietnamese desire to please the Americans to pressure reforms in the system there to which Việt Nam responded positively. Obama resented Việt Nam for favoring America and cut off much of the pressure allowing the government there to relapse and bring back some of the old oppressions which are still operant as Trump has not yet begun to lean on them. I am sure that will happen, I hope this carrier visit will get the ball rolling again.

[kearnyirish2]

I thought Clinton sent a very strange message; what does this say to Vietnam veterans today? The families that lost loved ones?

Vietnamese communists were a brutal, murderous bunch; that is being re-written to justify this current relationship. No surprise, though; we did the same with Red China - but we hadn’t lost 60K Americans fighting them.

[kearnyirish2]

In their last go-around (1979), I don’t think Vietnam claimed victory. Red China sent a “punitive expedition” that withdrew when the message was sent.

[redfreedom]

So a sailor gets shore leave, goes downtown and is confronted by a young boy that says: “My mamma numba one virgin.”

[Old Teufel Hunden]

" It’s also the biggest deep water port outside of HK that is on China’s doorstep."

Hong Kong a deep water port? You gotta be kidding me right? Every big ship that goes in there has to anchor out. I never got to the pier there, always anchored out in the harbor. I don't know about Vietnam's port, but the best deep water port I've seen in the far East is Subic Bay. It was a shame we lost that port, but we do need something in the South China sea area with China moving in there, Sasebo and Yokuska are nice, but too far north of the South China sea.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"I thought Clinton sent a very strange message; what does this say to Vietnam veterans today? The families that lost loved ones?"

Fifty years ago, the same thing could have been said about all the lives we lost to the Japanese in WWII. A better question is what do we say to the children and grandchildren of the Vietnam vets? Go fight a war with China or do we try to strengthen relations with our allies and potential allies in the region to box China in and prevent a future conflict?

Strengthening ties and bilateral relations with these countries and letting them know that America is their friend and they can count on them is the best medicine for the prevention of future conflict. When America has retreated from the world stage in the 20th century was when terrible conflicts happened. We have no choice but to do the job of being a friend to peace loving peoples or prepare to be dragged into more wars.

[laplata]

Yep.

[laplata]

Yes, it is. Me and some other FReepers have been there.

[laplata]

lol

[laplata]

I’m sure it is.

[laplata]

Did you come from Da Nang?

[kearnyirish2]

Apples and oranges; Japan lost the war and had a very different government after it.

Ask ARVN vets how “peace-loving” Vietnam is.