Vietnam Defence Forum

[BoQ77]

@Aqsuperman : are you fan of ComCom? you posted every photos from their FB

 

[Viet]

BM-21 Grad Multiple 122 mm rocket launcher

Maximum firing range‎ ‎40 km, rate of fire‎ ‎2 rounds/s, unprecise as unguided rockets, more suitable for bombardment on a large area. loading time 10 minutes for 40 tubes. a salvo of all rockets takes 20 seconds. Originated in USSR, the Vietnam improved version BM-21 has a longer range and more precise.

 

[Viet]

M-46 130mm field artillery, coming to service during the Vietnam war, served by a 8 man staff, max firing rate 8 rounds a minute, max range 38 km.

 

[Viet]

The South China Sea: Vietnam's Limited Diplomatic Options
Russia, the United States, Japan — who can help Vietnam square off against China?

By Du Nhat Dang
April 23, 2016

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, and Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh hold a news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 1, 2015.
Image Credit: DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett


For Vietnam, 2016 seems fated to be a crucial year. Hanoi’s sovereignty disputes and related diplomatic efforts will be impacted by ongoing changes in Russia, China, and Japan and, yes, the results of the United States’ presidential election.

The role of Russia is of particular interest for Vietnam. On April 14, Vietnamese shipyard Ba Son launched two Russian-designed Project 12418 Molniya-class guided missile corvettes built under license for the Vietnamese Navy after 30 months of construction. Russia is still Vietnam’s long-time partner in military-technical cooperation, but the relationship is not trouble-free.

The same day, the spokesperson for Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Le Hai Binh, voiced concerns about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s previous comments about the internationalization on South China Sea disputes.

“Issues that involve all relevant parties, namely the disputes over the Truong Sa [Spratly] archipelago, must be settled by all countries concerned,” Binh said. He added that Vietnam would stick to its position of seeking to solve the disputes through peaceful measures based on international law, especially the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and in the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Binh’s statement reflects the thoughts of many Vietnamese people about Russia’s position. Some no longer trust much in the Russian-Vietnamese friendship, arguing that Russia has changed since the days of the Soviet Union. Yes, there are hopes in Vietnam that Russia could take a more proactive stance on the South China Sea issue. On the other hand, there are also hopes that the United States can help Vietnam more by lifting the arms embargo completely.

The Obama administration seems willing to do this. Its positive attitude toward Vietnam was also highlighted in the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to Vietnam in 2015, and the U.S.-Vietnam Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations. At the same time, Vietnam and the United States are negotiation on U.S. use of Cam Ranh Bay, considered the finest deepwater port in Southeast Asia. These moves are part of a general warming in Vietnam-U.S. relations.

Public opinion in Vietnam is now splitting into two main camps with differing foreign policy recommendations: make the best of U.S support or seek Russia’s instead.

When Russia openly opposes the internationalization of South China Sea disputes–in other words deciding not to commit to Vietnam’s interests–Vietnam may think different about this choice. After the annexation of Crimea and the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, Russia seems to be feeling that now is the time to prioritize relations with China. Thus Moscow joined Beijing in opposing the G7 joint statement about the South China Sea.

That makes it more attractive for Vietnam to lean toward the United States. Unfortunately, support from the United States is also hanging in the balance, as much will depend on the next U.S. president.

Where else can Vietnam seek support and an advantage in its dispute with China? The passage of Japan’s new security bills last year, allowing Japan to conduct limited military operations abroad and sell arms to foreign countries, may help. In February, two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft visited Vietnam’s Da Nang for three days. This was just one sign of a new stage in Vietnam-Japan military cooperation amid tensions over the South China Sea. These two countries at least have a similar problem to focus on: China.

Vietnam is facing urgent challenges in defending its sovereignty and conducting diplomacy. Vietnam is frustrated by Sergey Lavrov’s comments even while stuck waiting for the next change in the U.S presidency. Most of all, Hanoi is hoping for some sort of intervention from the international community over the South China Sea disputes. Achieving this goal, however, will require immense diplomatic efforts this year.


Du Nhat Dang is a reporter for Thanh Nien newspaper. He graduated from the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanites in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

[Aqsuperman]

are you fan of ComCom? you posted every photos from their FB

Yes and no. I like their photos and i do post some here but that Zu 23 2 photo is actually from 1 of my FB friend which may provide Comcom admin with the photo. I can link his facebook to you if you want to :3

a Markman with his SVD.

 

[Viet]

Aqsuperman, BoQ77, we need more viet members to contribute in this thread. the more the better. I sometimes feel tired to be the lone wolf, being the lone fighter.

just got this news from india defence forum section

will be a nice antiship missile for our SU-30 bombers.

Vietnam expected to receive Brahmos missile

http://sajeevpearlj.blogspot.de/2016/04/vietnam-expected-to-receive-brahmos.html?m=1
Thursday, April 21, 2016







Vietnam Peoples Navy is the first foreign customer who expected to receive the world's lethal anti shipping cruise missile Brahmos. Sources confirmed that, the contract would be finalized before the end of this year. Both Russia and India agrees to export the Missile to Vietnam who is a friendly nation to both Nations.

The same source also said that, Air launched version of Brahmos A already completed the ground trails. the airborne carriage trails commenced soon by following the final test launch scheduled by end of this year. The Brahmos A program almost delayed by more than a year, where DRDO and HAL said test launch may occur in end of 2015.

Vietnam is the most pro Russian country who relies on Soviet and Russia for it's military needs, who also threatened by the Chinese with the disputed Island issue. Vietnam requesting the Brahmos missiles for it's front line naval ships, who currently using older Styx missile, Vietnam operates more than six Molniya class missile corvette's. Similar like Indian Navy's veer class missile corvette. Vietnam plans to replace those Styx missiles with Brahmos missile.

Sources said, Vietnam requesting the Brahmos since years, when the official talks started in early 2013, Later the talks actively progressed by both Indian and Russian officials. Since 51% of the missiles stakes under Indian custody, India needs to take the final decision. However India also willingly to share the Brahmos to Vietnam, after Vietnam given few of the oil fields to Indian state firm ONGC.

China protested the Vietnamese move of giving oil fields to India, saying "transferring rights in the disputed Island to foreign country make bigger problems". Refusing the Chinese threat, ONGC get the contract from Vietnam to explore the oil deposits. who already stated working on the fields.

India revamped it's relationship with Vietnam later 2000 only, However which creates stronger basement to counter Chinese threat. The relationship went another level in later years, as once the Indian foreign minister openly said that " Vietnam is one of the Pillar of India's act east Policy ".

The current government keen to expand the relationship into higher level and hosted the Vietnamese Prime minister in India early 2014. During the meet Indian PM offered the Brahmos missile to Vietnam, also expressed deeper maritime relationship with Vietnamese Navy. In this field both navy's conduct regular port visits, Joint patrols and Naval exercise.

Indian Govt also allowed the navy to provide assistance and training to Vietnam navy to work with newly acquired Kilo class submarine from Russia. Also given $100 million credit line to buy new warships from India. India is in final talks to supply four large patrol vessel to Vietnamese navy. as Indian PM promised in earlier 2014.

Vietnam operates six modern kilo class submarines and few Russian frigates and missile corvette's. all those are modernized with newer Klub missiles. Vietnam also operates K 300 P Bastion coastal missile battery, The missile used in the K300 is the Oniks missile, predecessor of Brahmos missile.

 

[Viet]

march!

 

[Aqsuperman]

Naval Grenadier with TAR 21

 

[BoQ77]

There're signs that Vietnam would buy some items from US in near future.

 

[Carlosa]

India and Vietnam Can Rescue Asia's Balance of Power
Sylvia Mishra
April 25, 2016
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/india-vietnam-can-rescue-asias-balance-power-15902?page=show

India no longer hides its aspirations of playing an active political and security role in the Asia-Pacific. For political and commercial reasons, the region is critical to India’s strategic thinking. But India’s may not be able to deftly integrate itself in the region, due to lack of consistent political will, steady military modernization and the galloping pace of the regional economy. However, New Delhi has been slowly expanding its strategic and economic heft through its Act East policy, blue-water navy and multilateral diplomacy.

In the evolving security context of the Asia-Pacific, one country that is key to India’s sustained presence and role is Vietnam. In the last few years, Hanoi’s diplomatic profile has grown in New Delhi’s strategic calculus. At the intersection of India’s Act East policy and Vietnam’s Look West policy, both countries have a historic opportunity to shape Asia’s balance of power.


Under the Modi government, a new maturation of India’s Asian strategy has included intensive high-level engagement with Vietnam. However, both countries can do much more to forge bolder diplomatic and military coordination, in view of the strategic rationale of closer ties. The brittle sense of anxiety about China’s territorial expansion and open disregard for international norms mandates that India and Vietnam improve their relations. Moving beyond the robust historical foundation of ties laid by India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh, the two countries should adopt politico-military mechanisms to adapt to an evolving Asian order. The landscape is wide for greater collaboration in terms of expanding defense cooperation, naval diplomacy and trade and investments.

During the official visit of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to New Delhi in October 2014, both countries’ leaders vowed to strengthen defense ties through security dialogue, enhanced service-to-service cooperation, capacity building and humanitarian mine action under ADMM-Plus. The two countries also signed an MOU in which India provided a concessional line of credit of $100 million for the procurement of defense equipment. This extension of credit and theprovision of four offshore patrol vessels are the first of their kind, signaling India’s preparedness to become an arms exporter as well as its willingness to bolster Vietnam’s defense capabilities. New Delhi’s assistance in modernizing Hanoi’s military forces, however, is not a new development. There have been talks going on to sell the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile since the preceding United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Although little progress was made, due to the UPA’s hesitancy to export defense hardware, the Modi government has also failed to expedite the process in the last two years.

Vietnam has sought India’s cooperation in the maritime domain. Both countries have engaged in frequent vessel exchange, while Indian officers have imparted training to Vietnamese submarine forces. Interlocked in a territorial dispute with China and its expansive claims on the South China Sea, Vietnam has struggled to hold its ground amid China’s aggressive land reclamation and construction projects on reefs. A new report from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) highlights that the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 46 percent of global arms imports over the past five years. This arms race in the Asia-Pacific underlines the region’s fraught security vulnerabilities, as China treats its smaller neighbors with impunity. India has historically been cautious in taking sides on territorial disputes. But a gradual policy change is evident under the Modi administration, as New Delhi approaches the issue with pragmatism, increasingly uninhibited by concerns of antagonizing China. India’s joint regional “Strategic Vision” with the United States, supporting freedom of navigation in the South China Sea (SCS), is one indicator of such a policy shift. Even though India has dismissed talks of joint patrols in the SCS with the United States, India is slowly warming up to the idea that it must undertake a greater security role to restore rule-based order in the region.

India’s partnership with Vietnam also first into the larger context of India’s evolving response to the U.S. “rebalance.” India, the United States and Vietnam share a common interest in preventing China from dominating seaborne trade routes and enforcing territorial claims through coercion. At a time when China is deploying advanced surface-to-air missiles on disputed islands in SCS, Vietnam sees the U.S. presence as a hedge against Beijing’s rising military power. Certainly, the U.S. military buildup in the region will have a significant impact on the regional balance of power. However, staunch diplomatic and security support from regional actors like India, Japan and Australia would be a reinforcing credible deterrent. And New Delhi’s economic commitment to Vietnam and the region is another factor that will shape how other states view India as a regional balancer.

Consistent failure at economic strides has led India’s commercial partnership with Vietnam to remain underdeveloped. Without the economy at the forefront of bilateral ties, prospects for greater India-Vietnam strategic collaboration remain feeble. While India’s trade with Vietnam is at a staggering low of $8.03 billion (2014), despite centuries of territorial disputes China and Vietnam still enjoy two-way trade of $66 billion (2015). According to a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency, 1,346 Chinese projects are in operation in Vietnam with total registered capital of $10.4 billion, making China the ninth-largest investor of the 112 nations and territories investing in Vietnam. The Foreign Investment Agency reported that Chinese businesses had sharply increased their investment capital from $312 million in 2012 to $2.3 billion in 2013 and $7.9 billion in 2014. As a signatory of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Vietnam intends to take advantage of Chinese investments to ramp up its transport infrastructure sector. In light of these economic compulsions, Vietnam’s business class steadily makes efforts to temper anti-Chinese violence and rhetoric. In 2014, Forbes reported that Vietnam regrets anti-China violence, and pledges to stop any outbreaks so that supply lines stay open to the flow of textiles and smartphone parts from China.

A realist Indian approach to Vietnam would involve lubricating strategic and defense ties along with promoting vibrant trade and investment policy in the textile, agriculture, pharmaceutical, energy, oil and gas sectors. It is crucial for India to get its Vietnam policy right—a multifarious relationship rooted in history and shaped by the evolving geopolitical imperatives of the Asian century. Efforts to embellish this bilateral partnership not only hold the keys to the Asian balance of power, but also pave the path for India’s truly engaged role in the Asia-Pacific.

Sylvia Mishra is a researcher at the Observer Research Foundation, working on U.S. policy in the Asia-Pacific and India-U.S. relations.

 

[Mokaman]

Vietnam expected to receive Brahmos missile

http://sajeevpearlj.blogspot.de/2016/04/vietnam-expected-to-receive-brahmos.html?m=1
Thursday, April 21, 2016







Vietnam Peoples Navy is the first foreign customer who expected to receive the world's lethal anti shipping cruise missile Brahmos. Sources confirmed that, the contract would be finalized before the end of this year. Both Russia and India agrees to export the Missile to Vietnam who is a friendly nation to both Nations.

The same source also said that, Air launched version of Brahmos A already completed the ground trails. the airborne carriage trails commenced soon by following the final test launch scheduled by end of this year. The Brahmos A program almost delayed by more than a year, where DRDO and HAL said test launch may occur in end of 2015.

Vietnam is the most pro Russian country who relies on Soviet and Russia for it's military needs, who also threatened by the Chinese with the disputed Island issue. Vietnam requesting the Brahmos missiles for it's front line naval ships, who currently using older Styx missile, Vietnam operates more than six Molniya class missile corvette's. Similar like Indian Navy's veer class missile corvette. Vietnam plans to replace those Styx missiles with Brahmos missile.

Sources said, Vietnam requesting the Brahmos since years, when the official talks started in early 2013, Later the talks actively progressed by both Indian and Russian officials. Since 51% of the missiles stakes under Indian custody, India needs to take the final decision. However India also willingly to share the Brahmos to Vietnam, after Vietnam given few of the oil fields to Indian state firm ONGC.

China protested the Vietnamese move of giving oil fields to India, saying "transferring rights in the disputed Island to foreign country make bigger problems". Refusing the Chinese threat, ONGC get the contract from Vietnam to explore the oil deposits. who already stated working on the fields.

India revamped it's relationship with Vietnam later 2000 only, However which creates stronger basement to counter Chinese threat. The relationship went another level in later years, as once the Indian foreign minister openly said that " Vietnam is one of the Pillar of India's act east Policy ".

The current government keen to expand the relationship into higher level and hosted the Vietnamese Prime minister in India early 2014. During the meet Indian PM offered the Brahmos missile to Vietnam, also expressed deeper maritime relationship with Vietnamese Navy. In this field both navy's conduct regular port visits, Joint patrols and Naval exercise.

Indian Govt also allowed the navy to provide assistance and training to Vietnam navy to work with newly acquired Kilo class submarine from Russia. Also given $100 million credit line to buy new warships from India. India is in final talks to supply four large patrol vessel to Vietnamese navy. as Indian PM promised in earlier 2014.

Vietnam operates six modern kilo class submarines and few Russian frigates and missile corvette's. all those are modernized with newer Klub missiles. Vietnam also operates K 300 P Bastion coastal missile battery, The missile used in the K300 is the Oniks missile, predecessor of Brahmos missile.

India giving 100 millions $ credit line for new warships is for stealth destroyer P28?

Vietnam ordered stealth destroyers P28 of India
January 9, 2016 Admin 0 Comment Vietnam ordered stealth destroyers P28 of India

Vietnam and India have reached agreement on the India will sell for Vietnam six modern stealth destroyer named P28.

Vietnam and India’s recent military cooperative relationship are tighter than ever. The result of that relationship is that Vietnam has achieved with India 1 agreement to purchase six modern stealth destroyers P28.

With the purchase of 6 stealth destroyer P28, this is the largest weapons buying contracts in the history of Vietnam’s army. But the information does not indicate the value of the contract, delivery times, etc.


The image of the modern stealth destroyers P28 in the shipyards of India
Stealth destroyer P28 Indian armament production extremely modern, typical of them is missile missile Barak, this combination can intercept target missiles just seconds after leaving the launch pad.

Barak missile missile is considered one of the most advanced missile in the world. In addition, P28 also carry about 16 fastest cruise missile Brahmos world.

Capable of anti-submarine destroyers are also very powerful with the RBU-6000 anti-submarine bombs SMERCH-2. Along with the other weapons as 1 Oto Melara Super Rapid Gun gunboat 76 mm cannon system, 4 AK-630 close combat of Russia and mm machine gun.

Besides, the destroyer also owns the radar reconnaissance system multifunction MF-STAR EL/M-2248 by IAI-Elta designed likely navigate to 32 Barak anti-aircraft missile. The missile was developed in 2006, the successful firing of the missile in Israel in November 2014, with 170 km of operational Radar MF-STAR has the ability to simultaneously track multiple targets at the same time on the sea in 125 km and far range combat aircraft at a distance of 350 km maximum.

In addition, the new ships are also equipped with radar for aerial reconnaissance of the IAI-Elta EL/M-2238 with S band range and aerial search radar Thales LW-08 D-band range.

Vietnam possesses the kind of missile on naval power, Vietnam will increase dramatically.

With the destroyers, P28, Gepard 3.9, Sigma, submarine Kilos, 1241-class ships. They will become the backbone of Vietnam’s Navy in the future.

 

[Aqsuperman]

It would be a long time with some high level metting and under the table negotiation before something that can go boom from the US reach VN :3 Still, some extra firepower wont hurt if there are no restraint on how VN do it business around.

Some Western weapon in Military Competitive shotting team

 

[Carlosa]

India giving 100 millions $ credit line for new warships is for stealth destroyer P28?

Vietnam ordered stealth destroyers P28 of India
January 9, 2016 Admin 0 Comment Vietnam ordered stealth destroyers P28 of India

Vietnam and India have reached agreement on the India will sell for Vietnam six modern stealth destroyer named P28.

Vietnam and India’s recent military cooperative relationship are tighter than ever. The result of that relationship is that Vietnam has achieved with India 1 agreement to purchase six modern stealth destroyers P28.

With the purchase of 6 stealth destroyer P28, this is the largest weapons buying contracts in the history of Vietnam’s army. But the information does not indicate the value of the contract, delivery times, etc.


The image of the modern stealth destroyers P28 in the shipyards of India
Stealth destroyer P28 Indian armament production extremely modern, typical of them is missile missile Barak, this combination can intercept target missiles just seconds after leaving the launch pad.

Barak missile missile is considered one of the most advanced missile in the world. In addition, P28 also carry about 16 fastest cruise missile Brahmos world.

Capable of anti-submarine destroyers are also very powerful with the RBU-6000 anti-submarine bombs SMERCH-2. Along with the other weapons as 1 Oto Melara Super Rapid Gun gunboat 76 mm cannon system, 4 AK-630 close combat of Russia and mm machine gun.

Besides, the destroyer also owns the radar reconnaissance system multifunction MF-STAR EL/M-2248 by IAI-Elta designed likely navigate to 32 Barak anti-aircraft missile. The missile was developed in 2006, the successful firing of the missile in Israel in November 2014, with 170 km of operational Radar MF-STAR has the ability to simultaneously track multiple targets at the same time on the sea in 125 km and far range combat aircraft at a distance of 350 km maximum.

In addition, the new ships are also equipped with radar for aerial reconnaissance of the IAI-Elta EL/M-2238 with S band range and aerial search radar Thales LW-08 D-band range.

Vietnam possesses the kind of missile on naval power, Vietnam will increase dramatically.

With the destroyers, P28, Gepard 3.9, Sigma, submarine Kilos, 1241-class ships. They will become the backbone of Vietnam’s Navy in the future.

Very good news to hear about this again. I hope this is for real and up to date because this story broke on May 2012 and then we didn't hear anything about them again. I still have the old articles of that time saved, it was also for 6 ships.. I used to post a lot of material about this on the other forum.

These are the Kamorta class ships, they are not destroyers, but frigates. In the Indian Navy they are known as corvettes. They are good ASW ships, but the version for India doesn't have anti ship missiles, so that will need to be modified for Vietnam.

I think the Sigma deal is already dead, the Kamorta class is the replacement for that.

A simpler version of the Kamorta-class might also be selected for the Philippines.

Have to wait for more details and confirmation of the weapon systems.

 

[Viet]

Mokaman, Carlosa welcome back!

----------





April 25, 2016 7:45 pm JST
Diplomatic chess in Cam Ranh Bay highlights Vietnam's dilemma
ATSUSHI TOMIYAMA, Nikkei staff writer

Japanese destroyers make a call at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam on April 12.


HANOI -- On April 12, two Japanese destroyers sailed into Cam Ranh Bay in southern Vietnam. It was the first time a Japanese Self-Defense Force vessel had ever appeared in the bay, a strategically important point only about 550km from the contested Spratly and Paracel island chains in the South China Sea. For Vietnam, the visit posed something of a dilemma. On one hand, it served as a warning to China, which has been building a military base in the controversial waters. On the other, it had the potential to raise the ire of its massive neighbor, with which it has deep economic and political ties.

So Hanoi chose to play it down the middle. It ensured that when the two vessels -- the Ariake and Setogiri -- pulled into the bay, they were not accompanied by the Oyashio training submarine, which had accompanied the boats when they called at Subic Bay in the Philippines on April 3.


Vietnam was almost certainly keen to get a firsthand glimpse of the advanced technology the Japanese sub packs. Nevertheless, it chose not to let it in because "submarines are what China is most sensitive about, and Vietnam did not want to stir up Beijing," a Japanese government official said. As a countermeasure against China, Vietnam has been boosting its fleet of submarines since last year, deploying six Russian-made Kilo-class subs at its base in Cam Ranh Bay. China, for its part, is believed to have more than 70 submarines.

A Japanese commander gives a press conference aboard a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel in Cam Ranh Bay on April 12.


Initial plans called for having a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force commander give a press conference on land after docking in the bay. However, a last-minute change had the officer address the press aboard an MSDF vessel, apparently so that the conference was not technically held in Vietnam.

Despite the historic occasion, the highest-ranking official sent from the Vietnamese navy to welcome the vessels was of colonel class. That was probably part of Hanoi's diplomatic chess game.

A compromise

Cam Ranh Bay holds great strategic importance to Vietnam. It was leased to the Soviet Union -- and then Russia -- from 1979 to 2002, during which time the country operated a military port there. Vietnam considers the bay its most important line of defense in the South China Sea. Former President Truong Tan Sang once said the bay would never be used for joint military cooperation with any nation, and that has remained the case. But in the face of China's expanding presence in the South China Sea, including the creation of artificial islands in the Spratlys and missile deployment in the Paracel chain, Vietnam is now being forced to rethink that policy.

The Cam Ranh International Port partially opened on March 8, paving the way for an MSDF visit. The port is shared by the military and the private sector and is ostensibly open to military vessels of any country. In late March, when Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan visited the country, Vietnam's Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh said Chinese naval vessels are welcome in the bay.

Though the port may no longer have the air of military exclusivity it once had, Vietnam still decides who's allowed in. That haziness regarding its operation may work in Vietnam's favor: It wants to keep China's surge in check but it does not want to be seen as tilting toward specific countries such as Japan or the U.S.

Moreover, the MSDF vessels were supposed to be the first to arrive at the new port. But in mid-March, a Singaporean naval vessel made a surprise call, changing its destination from the port of Da Nang. That "relegation" was seen as throwing China a bone.

Vietnam and China are bound closely together. China is Vietnam's largest trade partner, accounting for about 20% of its trade value. They also jointly carry out training for high-ranking Communist Party officials. The neighbors have overcome armed conflicts, such as the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 and the Johnson South Reef skirmish of 1988.

But with China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea provoking a strong backlash from the international community, Vietnam can no longer sit on the fence. That likely means distancing itself further from China.

By contrast, Hanoi's ties with Tokyo and Washington are strengthening. And if the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact takes effect, those bonds will only grow stronger. In October 2014, the U.S. partially lifted a ban on arms exports to Vietnam that had been in place for some 40 years -- since the Vietnam War -- to allow maritime weapons into the country. If the U.S. fully scraps the embargo, it would reduce Vietnam's heavy reliance on Russian arms imports and potentially make the Southeast Asian country more dependent on the U.S. defense industry.

As Vietnam marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of its Doi Moi economic liberalization policy this year, it will no doubt also be reconsidering its position in the international community.

 

[Aqsuperman]

ZSU 57 2 monument. This SPAA tank once a formidable anti aircraft weapon now have mostly withdraw due to the slow rate of fire and without radar. Still, in future conflict, its may rise as a potent ground support weapon.