ICC NOTE: As China continues its push into the South China Sea, flexing its muscles to the world, other southeast Asian are preparing both diplomatically and militarily. One such nation is Vietnam as the U.S. State Department is weighing the option of potentially lifting a long standing weapons ban with the communist nation. While in a foreign policy standpoint, it is likely a logical move as stronger Asian nations provide a buffer against China. On human rights and religious persecution standpoint, the State Department must ensure both are dealt with in Vietnam before they are given any form of military aid. If we continue to turn a blind eye to religious persecution and human right violations, nations will continue to persecute Christians and other religious minorities with impunity. We may not be seen as a nation called to police the world, but we are in a position to hold nations accountable for their actions against people of faith. 

5/10/2016 Vietnam (VOA) – The United States is reviewing its current arms transfer policy to determine if a full lifting of the arms embargo on Vietnam would better reflect developments of relations between the two countries.

Both Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski are visiting Vietnam this week, ahead of President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Hanoi later this month.

While Washington is continuing a ban on non-maritime lethal weapons transfers to Hanoi, it “can be modified to reflect changing circumstances,” State Department Bureau of Political-Military Affairs spokesman David McKeeby told VOA on Monday.

“We will continue to consult closely with Congress and as noted, human rights will continue to be an essential element of our policy decisions,” he added.

Murray Hiebert, regional expert of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA on Monday that there is “quite a bit of discussion happening in Washington right now,” especially when Vietnam is working closely with the U.S. on issues such as maritime security “in the context of China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.”

But he said even if the arms embargo is lifted in full, “it doesn’t mean Vietnam can actually, and will be allowed to, buy specific items.” Hiebert added the U.S. could still reject individual arms transfer applications going forward if there were serious violations of human rights.

Human rights issues

The State Department said Malinowski will emphasize to his Vietnamese counterparts the importance of making additional progress on human rights to further ties. Malinowski also will urge Vietnam to release political prisoners without condition, and encourage further reforms that will help to make Vietnam’s laws consistent with its international human rights obligations.

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