Excerpts from the Associated Press:
Panetta works to repair U.S.-Vietnam ties during historic visit
June 4, 2012, 7:37 p.m. EDT
McClatchy/Tribune – MCT Information Services
…
“[Vietnam’s Minister of Defense Phung Quang] Thanh called on the Obama administration to lift a ban on the sale of weapons and other lethal military equipment to Vietnam, implying that it might make Hanoi more willing to allow more Navy ships into Cam Ranh Bay.
The U.S., which established diplomatic relations with Hanoi in 1995, provides a modest amount of nonmilitary aid to Vietnam every year. But selling weapons “would benefit the two countries and help fully normalize relations,” Thanh said.
But Panetta indicated that many in Washington, especially in Congress, remained resistant to expanding aid to Hanoi given its poor human rights record.”
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