October 6, 2013

Vietnam’s suppression should not be rewarded

by • Le Quoc Quan

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WashingtonPostBy Washington Post | October 6

AS CHINA’S power grows, Vietnam has been working hard to build closer relations with the United States. Vietnam’spresident visited the White House in July; it has encouraged U.S. involvement in territorial disputes between China and several Asian countries, including Vietnam; and it is proposing to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free-trade deal with the United States and 11 other countries.

The Obama administration has encouraged this shift as part of its “pivot” to Asia, which is intended to balance China’s influence. But, unlike most of its neighbors, Vietnam is doing little to distinguish itself from the Communist regime in Beijing. Like China, it has opened its economy to foreign investment and free markets. But, just as China’s new leadership hasclamped down on dissent in the last year, so, too, has Vietnam’s. This year, at least 46activists have been jailed for criticizing the ruling Communist Party or campaigning for human rights, according to the Wall Street Journal. Continue Reading…

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