US eyes more Asian defence talks

[Lankan Ranger]

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US eyes more Asian defence talks

Asian & US defence chiefs should consider meeting more frequently to smooth out relations after last year's inaugural talks in Vietnam, a senior Pentagon official said Tuesday.

The October talks brought together defence ministers from 18 nations including the United States and China at a time of tension in much of Asia over Beijing's growing military might.

Robert Scher, the top Pentagon official handling Southeast Asia, said that the Hanoi meeting "fills a critical gap" as the region needs more communication on security issues along with "candid discussion where we may disagree."

"We really need to capitalize on the momentum generated following the successful inaugural" meeting, Scher, a deputy assistant secretary of defence, said at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank.

"We should also look and consider whether or not we want to have these ministerials on more than a once-every-three-year basis," he said.

The joint statement by the defence ministers in Hanoi said that the next such meeting would take place in 2013 in Brunei.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates held talks in Hanoi with Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie after tensions over US arms sales on Taiwan. Liang also held a rare meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in the wake of friction over Tokyo's arrest of a Chinese captain in disputed waters.

The other defence chiefs in the talks came from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia & South Korea.

US eyes more Asian defence talks - Channel NewsAsia

[redfox]

US eyes more Asian defence talks

Asian & US defence chiefs should consider meeting more frequently to smooth out relations after last year's inaugural talks in Vietnam, a senior Pentagon official said Tuesday.

The October talks brought together defence ministers from 18 nations including the United States and China at a time of tension in much of Asia over Beijing's growing military might.

Robert Scher, the top Pentagon official handling Southeast Asia, said that the Hanoi meeting "fills a critical gap" as the region needs more communication on security issues along with "candid discussion where we may disagree."

"We really need to capitalize on the momentum generated following the successful inaugural" meeting, Scher, a deputy assistant secretary of defence, said at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank.

"We should also look and consider whether or not we want to have these ministerials on more than a once-every-three-year basis," he said.

The joint statement by the defence ministers in Hanoi said that the next such meeting would take place in 2013 in Brunei.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates held talks in Hanoi with Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie after tensions over US arms sales on Taiwan. Liang also held a rare meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in the wake of friction over Tokyo's arrest of a Chinese captain in disputed waters.

The other defence chiefs in the talks came from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia & South Korea.

US eyes more Asian defence talks - Channel NewsAsia

I don't see how this would play into any traction. US can talk all it wants. Where as Vietnam has its self interest at stake. US can attempt to influence Vietnam, but the bargaining chip would play into Vietnam favor.

[5Star]

15 years after the normalization relation between U.S and Vietnam, the U.S is still giving us nothing but lip service, no military or industrial technology transfer at all.

[applesauce]

15 years after the normalization relation between U.S and Vietnam, the U.S is still giving us nothing but lip service, no military or industrial technology transfer at all.

then this will be a good opportunity to get stuff as the us attempts to check chinese influence

[redfox]

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15 years after the normalization relation between U.S and Vietnam, the U.S is still giving us nothing but lip service, no military or industrial technology transfer at all.

My friend and brother, Vietnam will most likely see nothing but empty promises. Today US is more broke than a worn tape deck! Do not expect any further than just words.