U.S. lifts arms embargo on old foe as Obama visits Vietnam

Record ID: 102337

  • Title: U.S. lifts arms embargo on old foe as Obama visits Vietnam
  • Date: 23rd May 2016
  • Summary: HANOI, VIETNAM (MAY 23, 2016) (AGENCY POOL) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VIETNAMESE PRESIDENT TRAN DAI QUANG AND U.S. PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA WALKING INTO THE PRESS BRIEFING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARRACK OBAMA, SAYING: "I can also announce that the United States is fully lifting the ban on the sales of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some fifty years. As with all our defense partners, sales will need to still meet strict requirements including those related to human rights, but this change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself." PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) VIETNAMESE PRESIDENT, TRAN DAI QUANG, SAYING: "Vietnam very much appreciates the U.S decision to completely lift the ban on lethal weapon sales to Vietnam, which is a clear proof that both countries have completely normalised the relations." OBAMA AND QUANG AT THE PRESS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARRACK OBAMA, SAYING: "The decision to lift the ban was not based on China or any other considerations, it's based on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process of moving towards normalisation with Vietnam." U.S. AND VIETNAM NATIONAL FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARRACK OBAMA, SAYING: "It is important for us to maintain the freedom of navigation and the governments of international norms and rules and laws may have helped to create prosperity and promoted commerce and peace and security in this region. And it's my belief that, with respect to the South China Sea, although the United States doesn't support any particular claim, we are supportive of the notion that these issues should be resolved peacefully, diplomatically, in accordance with international rules and norms and not based on who is the bigger party and can throw their weight around a little bit more." PHOTOGRAPHER OBAMA WALKING OFF THE STAGE AND SPEAKING TO PEOPLE
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2016 10:51
  • Keywords: USA Barack Obama Vietnam arms embargo TPP South China Sea equipment
  • Location: HANOI, VIETNAM
  • City: HANOI, VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014J13F47
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Monday (May 23) that Washington will fully lift an embargo on sales of lethal arms to Vietnam, underlining warming relations between the former foes amid rising tensions with Beijing over the South China Sea.
    The decision to lift the arms trade ban, which followed intense debate within the Obama administration, suggested that U.S. concerns about China's assertiveness outweighed arguments that Vietnam had not done enough to improve its human rights record and that Washington would lose leverage for reforms.
    "I can also announce that the United States is fully lifting the ban on the sales of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some fifty years. As with all our defense partners, sales will need to still meet strict requirements including those related to human rights, but this change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself," Obama said.
    Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang welcomed this.
    "Vietnam very much appreciates the U.S decision to completely lift the ban on lethal weapon sales to Vietnam, which is a clear proof that both countries have completely normalised the relations," he said at the same news conference.
    Obama told a joint news conference with Quang that disputes in the South china Sea should be resolved peacefully and not by whoever "throws their weight around", but insisted that the arms embargo move was not linked to China.
    "The decision to lift the ban was not based on China or any other considerations, it's based on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process of moving towards normalisation with Vietnam."
    He said the sale of arms would depend on Vietnam's human rights commitments, and would be made on a case-by-case basis.
    Obama, the third U.S. president to visit Vietnam since ties were restored in 1995, has made a strategic 'rebalance' towards Asia-Pacific a centrepiece of his foreign policy.
    Vietnam, where the United States was at war until 1975, has become a critical part of that strategy amid concerns about China's growing military might and its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
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