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Defend the sovereignty
Aug 20, 2019 / 06:43

In Hanoi, US generals show support for Vietnam's rights to defend sovereignty

Linh Pham

The US will cooperate with Vietnam in defense and continue its operations in the South China Sea.

Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General David L. Goldfein and Pacific Air Forces Commander (PACAF) General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. said during a visit to Hanoi last weekend that the US supports Vietnam’s rights to defense its sovereignty. 
 
Pacific Air Forces Commander (PACAF) General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. and Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General David L. Goldfein. Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong
Pacific Air Forces Commander (PACAF) General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. and Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General David L. Goldfein. Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong
“We always support Vietnam’s right to self-defense and defense, we will monitor the activities of the Vietnamese government to be ready to cooperate with you,” General David Goldfein said at a roundtable with local reporters in Hanoi on August 18. 

He stressed the importance of Vietnam in the US strategy on the Indo-Pacific region, saying that the visit to Vietnam had been scheduled for more than a year and this is his only visit to the Pacific region this year.

This is the first US Air Force chief of staff's visit to Vietnam after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
 
General David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong
General David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong
Both generals affirmed that the US policies stress the free and open Indo-Pacific and the importance of ensuring the operations of ships and aircraft in the whole region based on international law.

Meanwhile, General Charles Brown said the US is closely watching Chinese activities in the South China Sea and believes that Beijing’s activities are against its purpose is to preserve the open and free Indo-Pacific.

“It is clear that their activities have an enormous, undesirable and overwhelming effect, especially for the exclusive economic zone of the countries,” he said.
 
General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces Commander (PACAF). Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong
General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces Commander (PACAF). Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong
For that reason, he affirmed that the US Air Force will continue its operations in the South China Sea.

During the press roundtable, General David Goldfein emphasized the efforts and the importance of building a strong and solid cooperation with Vietnam. 

He stressed the message that the US President and Secretary of State had mentioned several times is a commitment to help Vietnam become a prosperous and powerful country. 

He talked about the cooperation which will begin firstly with training. He welcomed young Vietnamese officers to schools and academies of the US Air Force to study and cultivate knowledge.

In addition, General David Goldfein reiterated US Secretary of State Pompeo’s statement that it is the US that strongly opposes activities aimed at influencing and challenging Vietnam’s legitimate rights and sovereignty in the region.

During a two-day visit beginning on August 18, the two generals will meet with senior leaders of Vietnam.
General David Goldfein said that the visit to Vietnam is of particular importance to the two generals as their fathers had spent time in military service in Vietnam. In the Vietnam War, General Charles Brown’s father worked in the army and General David Goldfein’s was a pilot.

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