US lifts arms ban to boost Vietnam sea defense
4 Oct 2014 5:42 AM IST
In a decision likely to anger China, the US is partly lifting a 40-year ban on arms sales to former foe Vietnam to help boost defenses in the tense South China Sea.
The historic easing of the ban in place since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 will only apply to maritime equipment, State Department officials stressed, and comes amid warming ties and as Hanoi makes ‘modest’ improvements to human rights.
‘What’s driving this is not a sudden desire to transfer military equipment to Vietnam writ large, but a specific need in the region,’ said one official, highlighting what he called Vietnam’s lack of capacity in the disputed waters and America’s own national security interests.’
The historic easing of the ban in place since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 will only apply to maritime equipment, State Department officials stressed, and comes amid warming ties and as Hanoi makes ‘modest’ improvements to human rights.
‘What’s driving this is not a sudden desire to transfer military equipment to Vietnam writ large, but a specific need in the region,’ said one official, highlighting what he called Vietnam’s lack of capacity in the disputed waters and America’s own national security interests.’
Next Story
