Beyond Quagmire: The United States & Vietnam

1. Beyond Quagmire: The United States & Vietnam From Animosity to Friendship Kim-Thien T. Nguyen 5th Triennial Vietnam Symposium Vietnam Center Lubbock, TX

2. View from Washington, D.C. • “Vietnam is still with us. It has created doubts about American judgment, about American credibility, about American power – not only at home, but throughout the world. It has poisoned our domestic debate. So we paid an exorbitant price for the decisions that were made in good faith and for good purpose.” - Henry Kissinger

3. View from Hanoi • “They (the U.S.) should help rebuild our country.” • Vietnam gets “sold out” • Vietnam is the winner of the war, U.S. should pay reparations, should normalize …

4. View from Hanoi • “The United States … ‘held the whip’; while it was imperative for Hanoi, normalization was a low priority in the array of Washington’s global foreign policy objectives.” • If Vietnam did not do what the U.S. wanted, the U.S. would continue to block Vietnam from the world economy.

5. Turning of the tide • Fear of abandonment and world isolation, Vietnam issued a statement at its Sixth Party Congress in 1986: “Vietnam is ready to establish friendly relations with the rest of the world.”

6. Turning of the tide • Le Duan’s death in 1986 • Truong Chinh becomes General – Secretary of the CCP • Economic reform and political renovation • Fall of Soviet Union / End of the Cold War

7. U.S. – Vietnam Normalization • Vietnam needs normalization with the United States, while the U.S. does not. • “We want peace so we can rebuild our country.” • “But for life, for peace, for the future, we try to forget.”

8. Normalization: Phase I • Talks commenced during the Carter presidency. • Vietnam: U.S. has a “moral obligation” to provide reconstructive aid. • China card comes into play when normalization seems to be within reach in 1978.

9. Normalization: Phase II • Normalization talks began in 1988 under Reagan. • Vietnam wanted normalization, U.S. not as forthcoming. • Key outstanding issues: Cambodia, POW/MIAs.

10. Towards Diplomatic Normalization • 1993: Vietnam receives aid from World Bank and Asian Development Bank. • 1994: U.S. lifts economic embargo • July 11, 1995: U.S. – Vietnam normalization

11. Towards Economic Normalization • Reservations from U.S. and Vietnam • 1996, talks began for BTA • 1998, first of 3 annual waivers of Jackson-Vanik amendment • Framework agreement on key provisions was agreed upon in 1999. • Final agreement reached in July 2000

12. Benefits Vietnam: catalyze reform, open markets to global economic community U.S.: access to Vietnamese markets Concerns Vietnam: way for U.S. to gain concessions, take advantage of Vietnam ~ BTA as “trojan horse” U.S.: resistance and wariness at home regarding American interests. Bilateral Trade Agreement

13. Beyond Quagmire: We’ve come a long way • Normalization has not erased the past • Distrust still lingers on both sides • Great strides have been made • Need to continue forward-oriented policies