By Shannon Tiezzi
As part of the rebalance to Asia, the U.S. continues to woo Vietnam while China looks on.
During his visit to Vietnam this week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the U.S. will provide “$32.5 million in new U.S. assistance for maritime law enforcement in Southeast Asian states.” Despite Kerry’s insistence that “this maritime announcement has nothing to do with any recent announcements by any other country or any of the tensions in the region,” it will almost inevitably be read as a response to China’s growing assertiveness in disputed territorial areas.
Part of the U.S. “rebalance to Asia” strategy involves bolstering U.S. ties in the region, not only with long-time allies like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, but with new partners such as Vietnam. Kerry placed his visit to Vietnam squarely within this context: “What some are calling our rebalance within the rebalance, which is an intensified focus on Southeast Asia, is now a central part of our policy … Nowhere is this more important or more visible, frankly, than in the heightened investment and engagement than right here in Vietnam.” Indeed, of the $32.5 million in U.S. assistance for maritime security, $18 million was earmarked for Vietnam, including the purchase of five new patrol boats for the Vietnamese coast guard.
Given that Vietnam has a long-standing territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, particularly over the Spratly and Paracel Islands, it’s entirely likely that these coast guard vessels will be used to patrol areas China claims as its territory. This won’t do much to erase fears in Beijing that the United States is seeking closer ties with Vietnam as part of a larger containment strategy towards China.
Read the full story at The Diplomat