In front of a Vietnamese soldier, the aircraft carrier "carl vinson" is entering Da Nang.
This is a very important historical event. Since 1975 Vietnam War ended, the United States withdrew its troops from Vietnam for 43 years. This is the first time that an American aircraft carrier has docked at a local port in Vietnam.
In the past, although there were American aircraft carriers, Stannis and Washington near Vietnam, they all stopped in the waters near Vietnam during sea drills. Vietnamese navy and government officials had to board the ship by helicopter or transport ship to visit. This is the first time that the aircraft carrier directly docked at the local port base.
Major General Fuller, commander of the aircraft carrier carl vinson, who pioneered this precedent, said excitedly that this was a "historic step". Well, historically, General Fuller's father, Old Fuller, served and fought on Vietnamese soil during the Vietnam War.
As a historic visit, the American aircraft carrier did not dare to fight during this visit to Vietnam. There are about 5500 officers and men on the aircraft carrier, and usually one-third of them are on duty. Others go to the city to take part in some visits, play ball games and listen to concerts. In particular, it is necessary to visit the service center for victims persecuted by the US military with chemical weapons during the Vietnam War to show the growing friendship between the US military and the Vietnamese government …
Vietnamese soldiers boarded the "carl vinson" aircraft carrier to visit
For this visit, the media in the United States and Vietnam reacted to two extremes. American media commented that carl vinson's visit to Vietnam was "intended for China", and even more exciting analysis said that the United States was "jointly dealing with China".
Vietnam deliberately played down the propaganda of this visit, emphasizing normal foreign affairs exchanges. Don't think too much, just afraid of stimulating China.
In fact, for this moment, the United States and Vietnam have long been laying the groundwork. From last year's Vietnamese Prime Minister and Defense Minister visited the United States one after another, to June+10/October this year, US Defense Minister Matisse visited Vietnam, all discussing this matter. In recent years, the military cooperation between the United States and Vietnam has been heating up.
The arrangement of American and Vietnamese flags on the aircraft carrier "carl vinson"
Both the United States and Vietnam experienced the Vietnam War in history, and both sides hated it. However, from the Obama period of 20 1 1, the United States and Vietnam signed the Memorandum of Defense Cooperation, which was upgraded in 20 15, and was called the Statement of Common Vision of Defense Relations, stating that both sides should strengthen all-round defense cooperation.
On this basis, the United States further wooed Vietnam and gradually lifted the arms sales ban on Vietnam. In 20 16, when Obama visited Vietnam, he announced that he would no longer restrict the sale of weapons and equipment to Vietnam. Basically, he can buy whatever he wants, but he has to report it one at a time, batch by batch. The following year, the United States handed over a 3,000-ton patrol boat of its Coast Guard to the Vietnamese Marine Police to confront China in the South China Sea.
Morgenthau, a Hamilton-class patrol boat delivered to Vietnam by the US military.
The ceremony of handing over the "morgenthau" by the United States and Vietnam.
After Trump took office, he also visited Da Nang, Vietnam through the APEC summit. Looking back on the past few years, we will find that the relationship between Vietnam and the United States has obviously deepened in the seven years since 20 1 1. These seven years happened to be the most intense period of struggle in the South China Sea and the most "joyful" stage in Vietnam and the Philippines. By stirring up the temperature in the South China Sea, the United States won Vietnam with its power and wanted to disgust China. This has been the case for the past seven years. Now, the Philippines has quit halfway, it has become China's friendship, and the South China Sea is becoming calm. For the United States, Vietnam can no longer let go.
Viet Nam is the country that occupies the largest number of islands and reefs in South China, and it is also the country that claims the most about the so-called exclusive economic zone and the so-called territorial sea in the South China Sea. Moreover, in recent years, we have been reclaiming land from the illegally occupied islands and reefs, upgrading fortifications, and going back and forth with China. Regarding the aircraft carrier's visit to Vietnam, although Vietnam lowered its voice voluntarily, saying that we didn't invite the United States to scare China, the implication was obvious. The American aircraft carrier is here. What else can we say?
Another interesting thing is that the American aircraft carrier did not go to the famous international port Cam Ranh Bay this time, but docked in Da Nang. When Chinese and Russian warships visit Vietnam, they all go to Cam Ranh Bay, where conditions are superior and the port is bigger. Why don't American aircraft carriers take the usual route?
The explanation given by the Vietnamese side is that Cam Ranh Bay is a military port with a relatively isolated location, and Da Nang is a relatively prosperous tourist attraction, which is convenient for organizing exchange activities between US Navy officers and soldiers and local people.
Indeed, the military significance of Cam Ranh Bay is too heavy, and the intention of the US military to return to Cam Ranh Bay is too obvious. Docking in Da Nang can be relatively diluted. However, history is so fond of making coincidences. For the US military, Da Nang is more than just a tourist exchange place. There are three points:
From 1964 to 1965, the US military officially launched a local war in Vietnam because of the "Beibu Gulf Incident". On March 8th,1965,3500 US Marines landed in Da Nang first. In March, American troops landed in Da Nang.
1973, according to the Geneva negotiations, the United States and Vietnam reached an armistice agreement, and the US combat troops packed their bags and held a flag-lowering ceremony at Da Nang Airport. In March of that year, American troops withdrew from Da Nang.
1975 In March, on the eve of Vietnam's reunification, the last batch of American diplomats stationed in Saigon all left Da Nang in March.
Now, however, in March, the American aircraft carrier came to Da Nang again. In this way, we may have a deeper understanding of the "America is back" said by the US military commander …
The "carl vinson" aircraft carrier is entering Xiansha Port in Da Nang, and the dense carrier aircraft on it are silently showing their muscles.
Because Da Nang is in the north, close to our Hainan Island, during the Vietnam War, American aircraft carriers carried out air raids on North Vietnam, mostly in the waters near Da Nang, so American aircraft carriers are no strangers to this sea area, and Vietnamese people should be able to understand American aircraft carriers in the ashes.
Historical photos of the Vietnam War
Historical events will not be forgotten.
Warships are the mobile territory of a country, and their visit to a country represents friendly military exchanges between the two countries. But how good is it?
It's good to nod and smile when meeting, but not to hug when meeting. Similarly, the visit of frigates and destroyers is different from that of aircraft carriers.
The aircraft carrier belongs to the highest-level naval visit, because it is not a ship, but a formation, led by at least one general. This shows that Vietnam-US relations have reached an unprecedented high point in history.
Carl vinson visited Vietnam and hung the American-Vietnamese flag as a gesture of friendship.
Besides, has the US aircraft carrier visited other socialist countries? I dare not even think about it. In the 1980s, when Sino-US relations were at their best, the bureau received a large number of American ships, but did not see American aircraft carriers visiting. Therefore, Vietnam became the first socialist country to receive an American aircraft carrier at home. In exchange, the bureau believes that Vietnamese naval vessels may also visit the United States sometime this year.
However, we can't assume that Vietnam is in the arms of the United States, and Vietnam is as good as wearing a pair of pants in the United States. They cannot develop into allies. Vietnam's social system, nationalism and historical grievances are all insurmountable gaps between the United States and Vietnam.
One thing that can be practically operated in the near future is that Vietnam seems to be waiting for the right time to lease its Cam Ranh Bay. You have money in America, your aircraft carrier can be stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, Russia has money, and your aircraft carrier can also be stationed in Cam Ranh Bay.
This is the most attractive to the United States. If Vietnam leases Cam Ranh Bay to the United States, it will pose a great threat to China in the future. It is directly close to Hainan Island, South China Sea and Xisha Islands.
How should we look at this matter? The bureau thinks our performance is quite atmospheric, so there is nothing to make a fuss about. I will visit you during my normal visit. Now that the country is getting stronger and stronger, our vision will be longer and our status will be higher. There are some trivial matters around me, which are not very sensitive. Carl vinson's visit is more symbolic.
Before visiting Vietnam, "carl vinson" spent a Spring Festival in the South China Sea, running around the streets. Of course, when it appeared near the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea of China, we also unceremoniously dispatched a 052D guided missile destroyer to track and monitor the US military from a visual distance.
When the US Navy showed the training of the carl vinson aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, Oolong regarded China 052D as a Burke ship, and the photo was deleted.
So, American warships, don't be too headstrong, someone is staring at you.