Quote Originally Posted by davidbfpo View Post
AdamG,

Given the reported closeness between China and Russia of late, often with a stress on commerce and trade, does Vietnam really have a claim upon Russian support? Yes, Russia is in the process of selling Kilo class SSK to Vietnam and offers harbour facilities @ cam Ranh Bay. Then's there a strong element of solidarity between China and Russia politically over so many international issues, often in conflict with the USA.
Remember the last scene in the Spaghetti Western "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly"?

The Vietnamese are trying to play off the Cam Ranh Bay plum between Moscow and Washington for the most benefits. The only problem playing aginst Putin is that you might wind up with a Naval Infantry Brigade in your front yard one morning, and a Spetsnaz Battalion in your back yard.

On March 11, veteran Reuters correspondent David Brunnstrom published an exclusive report that Russian Tu-95MS Bear nuclear-capable strategic bombers, conducting assertive reconnaissance patrols in the airspace near U.S. military bases in Guam, had been refueled by Russian Il-78 tanker aircraft staging out of the military airfield at Cam Ranh Bay on Vietnam’s central coast.

U.S. officials noted that Russian bomber flights near Guam were part of a global pattern of renewed assertiveness approved by President Vladimir Putin against the U.S. and NATO allies in response to raising tensions over Russian annexation of Crimea, destabilizing activities in Ukraine, and Western punitive sanctions.

It was also reported that the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi had raised official concerns with Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to an anonymous State Department official, “We have urged Vietnamese officials to ensure that Russia is not able to use its access to Cam Ranh Bay to conduct activities that could raise tensions in the region.”
http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/vietn...sia-crossfire/

The United States embassy in Hanoi has asked the Vietnamese government to stop permitting Russia to use a military base to refuel its airplanes. The U.S. says Russia has performed what it calls “provocative flights” around the U.S. territory in the Pacific. Officials have not received an answer from the Vietnamese government.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/c...y/2677999.html