Obama reiterates his stand on TPP and South China Sea

Record ID: 102147

  • Title: Obama reiterates his stand on TPP and South China Sea
  • Date: 24th May 2016
  • Summary: HANOI, VIETNAM (MAY 24, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WAITING IN FRONT OF VIETNAM NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE IN HANOI VIETNAMESE FLAG
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2016 10:37
  • Keywords: Vietnam Barack Obama Hanoi speech
  • Location: HANOI, VIETNAM
  • City: HANOI, VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014J61YRR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated his plan for a stronger alliance with Vietnam on Tuesday (May 24), one day after scrapping an arms ban that was the last big hurdle between two countries drawn together by concern over China's military buildup.
    Obama returned to the issue of human rights in a speech before leaving the capital and also dwelt on the importance of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where China has been turning remote outcrops into islands with runways and harbors.
    "Nations are sovereign, and no matter how large or small a nation may be, its sovereignty should be respected, and its territory should not be violated. Big nations should not bully smaller ones. Disputes should be resolved peacefully," he said, without naming China, which claims sovereignty over 80 percent of the South China Sea.
    "Addressing areas where our governments disagree, including on human rights. I say this not to single out Vietnam, no nation is perfect. Two centuries on, United States is still striving to live up to our founding ideas. We still deal with our short-comings," Obama added.
    Participants at the talk were delighted to have heard his last speech in Hanoi.
    "I think president Obama's speech is very interesting. One thing that surprised me very much is his deep knowledge of Vietnamese culture," said Nguyen Phuong Thao, a university student.
    Obama flew on to Ho Chi Minh City, the country's commercial hub, which was called Saigon until North Vietnamese tanks rolled into the city in April 1975 to bring U.S.-backed South Vietnam under communist rule.
    He will meet young entrepreneurs at one of the co-working spaces that host Vietnam's budget tech startups, which have been receiving attention from angel investors and Silicon Valley funds.
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