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Vietnam Explores Increasing Foreign Military Cooperation to Resist China

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Vietnam indicates in a recent defense white paper it
   will pursue stronger military ties abroad as China challenges its
   maritime sovereignty claims, and analysts expect that to mean more
   exercises with Western-leaning foreign powers and brisker purchases of
   foreign weapons.

   The Southeast Asian country will "promote defense cooperation" abroad
   to handle mutual security challenges, the Ministry of National Defense
   paper released in November says.

   As conditions are right, the English-language paper says, "Vietnam will
   consider developing necessary, appropriate defense and military
   relations with other countries '¦ for mutual benefits and common
   interests of the region and international community."

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