The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group and Japan's Izumo aircraft carrier recently visited Da Nang, Vietnam, which is a new strategic move by the United States and Japan in the South China Sea, with the aim of supporting Vietnam in confronting China near Wanan Bank in Nansha and competing for oil and gas resources. Vietnam has also taken this opportunity to strengthen military cooperation with the United States and Japan, enhance its maritime strength, and purchased Su-30 fighters, anti-ship missiles and other equipment from Russia, and may conduct joint patrols with the United States and Japan in the South China Sea to provoke China. Such a move could trigger a conflict in the Spratlys, or even a local naval battle.
The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier group arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, on June 25 and is expected to dock until the 30th. There were also two Aegis cruisers in the formation, the Antietam and the Shannon. This is the USS Reagan's second visit to Vietnam, the last being in March 2019. The visit comes against the backdrop of increasing U.S. military activity in the South China Sea, where two U.S. and Japanese aircraft carrier formations entered the South China Sea on June 14 for a joint Xi exercise with a French Navy frigate. On June 20, the Japanese aircraft carrier Izumo *** also visited Da Nang, Vietnam, and had exchanges with the Vietnamese Navy. These moves show that the strategic goal of the United States and Japan in the South China Sea is to confront China and compete for control and resources in the South China Sea.
Another purpose of the U.S.-Japan visit to Vietnam is to win over Vietnam and make it a strategic partner of the United States and Japan. Vietnam is one of the main claimants in the South China Sea and has several disputes with China over the Spratly Islands. Among them, Van An Beach is the most concerned location in Vietnam, because it not only has islands and reefs, but also rich oil and gas resources. Vietnam has been deploying coast guard vessels, fishing boats, oil and gas platforms near Wanan Bank, and has had many confrontations with Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing vessels. The visit of the United States and Japan to Vietnam is to support Vietnam's position on Wanan Bank, give Vietnam confidence and pressure, and urge Vietnam to cooperate more with the United States and Japan in the South China Sea, including providing military bases, intelligence sharing, and procurement.
Vietnam has not given up the opportunity to cooperate with the United States and Japan, and hopes to use the strength of the United States and Japan to enhance its maritime strength and safeguard its maritime rights and interests. In recent years, Vietnam has purchased a large number of Russian equipment, including Su-30 fighters, Kilo-class submarines, anti-ship missiles, etc., which has greatly improved its naval strength. Vietnam has also stockpiled a number of frigates and missile boats equipped with anti-ship missiles to deal with possible maritime conflicts. It is possible that Vietnam will conduct joint patrols with the United States and Japan in the South China Sea to demonstrate its military presence and put pressure on China.
However, such a move by Vietnam may bring destabilizing factors to the situation in the Spratlys, and even trigger a local naval battle. Vietnam has suffered two naval battles with China, the Battle of the Paracels in 1974 and the Battle of Chigua Reef in 1988, both of which have suffered crushing defeats. If Vietnam provokes China again, China will not sit idly by and will take necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and interests. It is also impossible for the United States and Japan to go to war with China for Vietnam, because the cost of doing so is too great and the benefits are too small. Therefore, Vietnam should remain calm and rational, not be fooled by the false promises of the United States and Japan, not become a pawn of the United States and Japan, and not create problems for peace and stability in the South China Sea.