Moscow warms Hanoi ties with weapons platforms to counter China

http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/secure/2013/03_20/ba.asp?

 

Moscow warms Hanoi ties with weapons platforms to counter China

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu received a hero's welcome in Vietnam last week, highlighting the sense of unease and urgency in the region about China's aggressive military rise.

"Vietnam will wholeheartedly strive to broaden cooperation in various fields, including national defense," said Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang via the state-run news agency.

To stress the historical ties between Moscow and Hanoi, President Truong said that "Vietnam is always grateful to valuable support and assistance provided by Russia during the past struggle for national liberation and unification and the current cause of socio-economic development and national protection."

The "national protection" is a thinly veiled reference to China's expansive territorial and maritime claims that overlap Vietnam's own.

Vietnam has bought from Russia at least 6 kilo-class submarines to counter China's aggressive claims.

The first two are expected to be delivered to the Vietnamese navy this summer, with the rest ready for service within a couple of years.

Moscow is also cooperating with Vietnam in developing anti-ship missiles that are primarily for countering China in the South China Sea.

China is nervous about Moscow-Hanoi ties. The Chinese government-run newspaper Global Times has run a series of articles about the subject, especially Sergei Shoigu's recent visit.

"Vietnam has viewed China as its main military threat," the Global Times said, citing Russian defense experts. "It is possible that Vietnam will allow the Russian Navy to rebuild Moscow's naval and air force bases in Cam Ranh Bay as an important measure to contain China."

Cam Ranh Bay is the best deep-water base in Southeast Asia, with natural terrain protection and excellent geostrategic location on the southeast coast of Vietnam, overlooking the main international trading route and navigation artery in the South China Sea.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military operated out of Cam Ranh Bay to bomb North Vietnam. In 1975, North Vietnam captured it and soon the Soviet Union moved in and for the next two decades made Cam Ranh Bay the largest Soviet/Russian naval base outside of the USSR/Russia until 2002.

In June 2012, the U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited Cam Ranh Bay, the first such high defense official to visit the base since the end of the Vietnam War.

But to many Vietnamese leaders, Russia may be a better bet to seal a defense alliance against China.