COMMANDER, U.S. PACIFIC FLEET KICKSTARTS NAVAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 000210

SIPDIS


SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/RSP
SECDEF FOR ISA/STERN
PACOM FOR J5/CANH NGUYEN
PACFLT FOR N5/YAMAMOTO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2017
TAGS: MARR MOPS PHSA VM
SUBJECT: COMMANDER, U.S. PACIFIC FLEET KICKSTARTS NAVAL
COOPERATION WITH NEW INITIATIVES BETWEEN U.S. NAVY AND
PEOPLE,S NAVY

Classified By: DCM Jonathan M. Aloisi.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) During a recent visit to Hanoi and Hai Phong, Vietnam,
the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Gary
Roughead, proposed a range of new initiatives intended to
broaden U.S.-Vietnam naval cooperation, including cooperation
in the fields of Meteorological-Oceanographic (METOC)
prediction and Search and Rescue (SAR) coordination. He also
put forth a number of modest ideas to foster contact between
junior and mid-grade naval officers of both countries,
including ship-rider opportunities and offers for Vietnamese
naval officers to observe maritime training events within
regional bilateral and multilateral exercises, such as the
annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)
exercise. Favorable reactions to these proposals by civilian
and military interlocutors suggested that Vietnam is ready to
begin naval cooperation in earnest, if at a tentative and
measured pace. End Summary


2. (C) From January 21-24, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific
Fleet, Admiral Gary Roughead, visited Hanoi and Hai Phong,
Vietnam during the first leg of a regional trip to Southeast
Asia. During this visit, he called on the Commander of the
People's Navy (Vice Admiral Nguyen Van Hien),Deputy Chief of
the General Staff Lieutenant General Nguyen Duc Soat, and
Vice Foreign Minister (VFM) Le Van Bang. He also visited the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Institute for International
Relations (IIR),the People's Navy Medical Institute, and the
Hai Long Shipyard. Admiral Roughead also conducted two press
events with members of the domestic and international media
corps while in Hanoi.

Promoting cooperation and coordination
--------------


3. (C) During his call on VADM Hien, Admiral Roughead
proposed a broad range of initiatives to boost cooperation
between the U.S. Navy and People's Navy of Vietnam.
Specifically, he suggested further METOC cooperation, as well
as expanded efforts to develop the capacity of both countries
to work together in SAR activities. He also recommended that
the People's Navy send personnel as observers during regional
maritime exercises, and that it consider a limited ship-rider
program in conjunction with upcoming U.S. Navy port visits.
For his part, VADM Hien expressed interest in these ideas,
but he also clearly stated that the General Staff would have
to consider and approve any new activity before the People's
Navy would be permitted to participate.


4. (C) During a reception immediately following the official
call, VADM Hien took the opportunity to extensively question
Admiral Roughead about the training and retention of U.S.
Navy personnel, especially those with technical
qualifications. It was clear from the tone and content of
the questions that the current system of recruitment,
training and retention employed by the People's Navy may be
proving itself inadequate for satisfying the needs of a
modernizing force, and that the People's Navy leadership may
be interested in considering new paradigms. While both the
call and dinner were pleasant, VADM Hien was typically
non-committal across the board, preferring instead to
recommend that Admiral Roughead take up his proposals with
Lieutenant General Nguyen Duc Soat later in the visit.


5. (C) Although the meeting between Admiral Roughead and VFM
Le Van Bang was brief, several substantive issues where
discussed, including future possible cooperation in the areas
of METOC prediction and warning, SAR assistance and training
and a possible future role for the Vietnamese as observers in
regional maritime exercises, such as CARAT. Admiral Roughead
also suggested future military medical activities in the
sphere of humanitarian assistance/disaster relief in Vietnam
as a possible area for future cooperation. VFM Le Van Bang
indicated that these were areas where increased cooperation

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was both possible and desirable, but he requested more detail
be provided, especially with regard to opportunities for
Vietnamese officers to observe maritime exercises. He also
indicated that Vietnam would be interested in receiving more
information from the United States about maritime shipping
activity in the South China Sea.


6. (C) While expressing confidence that the developing
U.S.-Vietnam relationship would continue to grow, VFM Le Van
Bang stated his belief that Vietnam's share of the current
budget for the International Military Education and Training
(IMET) program was too small. Finally, he asked for U.S.
assistance in support of Vietnam's efforts to develop its
infrastructure. Specifically, he noted the need to build a
modern multilane north-south highway, additional north-south
rail lines, schools and hospitals.


7. (C) Following the call on VFM Le Van Bang, Admiral
Roughead met with several IIR staff members for a spirited
roundtable discussion. For about an hour, IIR faculty
questioned the Admiral about U.S. views concerning the rise
of China, the potential impact of Chinese military power on
the balance of power in Asia, U.S. perceptions about
strategic threats in the region, and the future role of
Vietnam in maintaining security in the region. Some of the
faculty's questions highlighted their misgivings about the
potential impact of the Proliferation Security Initiative
(PSI) on Vietnam's national sovereignty and how a lack of
enforcement capacity could hamper Vietnam's decision to
eventually participate. Admiral Roughead's responses to
these inquiries expressed a view that perhaps had not
received a lot of previous consideration by many of the
roundtable participants. Specifically, he noted that U.S.
maritime strategy in the region was principally driven by a
post 9/11 outlook more than concerns over expanding Chinese
military influence. He noted that the vulnerability of
maritime shipping and sea lanes of communication (SLOC) to
non-state actors had the potential to cause far more harm to
nations than the military threat posed by any traditional
military power. He also noted that regional cooperation to
contain trafficking in weapons, drugs and persons and to
respond to crises, such as natural and manmade disasters,
would strengthen the security of the entire international
community, and help foster everyone's economic prosperity.


8. (C) During his call on Lieutenant General Nguyen Duc Soat,
who concurrently serves as both a Deputy Chief of the General
Staff and the standing Vice-Chairman of the National
Committee for Search and Rescue (NCSR),Admiral Roughead
again presented a lengthy list of potential areas where
U.S.-Vietnam mil-mil relations could be expanded, including
METOC, SAR, medical cooperation, disaster relief, ship-rider
and exercise-observer opportunities. LTGEN Soat was more
definitive in his responses than most of his MoD collegues
were during this visit. He implied a willingness to consider
the possibility of a future limited U.S. SAR exercise in
concert with Vietnam SAR forces. LTGEN Soat also indicated a
desire for Vietnam to participate as an observer in the 2007
CARAT exercise. Vietnam must first indicate which country
they desire to observe, and U.S. Pacific Fleet will then
initiate the process of gaining approval from the host
country. With regard to METOC, LTGEN Soat expressed
satisfaction about what had been achieve so far, but he asked
for increased assistance in developing the necessary
communications infrastructure within Vietnam to receive,
process and disseminate METOC and Tsunami warning information
from the United States. He also appealed for greater medical
cooperation between the People,s Army and Pacific Command,
and specifically asked for support for the Medical Branch of
the People's Navy.


9. (C) Like VFM Le Van Bang, LTGEN Soat also voiced his
opinion that Vietnam's share of the IMET budget was
inadequate to fully capitalize on the growing mil-mil
relationship. Finally, LTGEN Soat noted that PACOM's
humanitarian assistance projects in central Vietnam had left
a very good impression among the people, and that continued
efforts to improve Vientam's SAR and disaster prevention and

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response capacity would further strengthen the people's view
that the United States is a trusted friend of Vietnam.

One visit...two visits...three visits...more?
--------------


10. (C) During an evening reception hosted by the U.S.
Ambassador, Admiral Roughead had the opportunity to discuss
at length future ship-visit opportunities with Senior Colonel
Nguyen Hong Quan, a Deputy Director of the Ministry of
Defense,s External Relations Department (ERD). The Admiral
proposed a number of ship visits for this year, specifically
a routine port visit and a visit by a hydrographic vessel.
SRCOL Quan also raised the idea of a visit by a humanitarian
mission embarked aboard USS PELELIU (LHA 5). Pacific Fleet
is currently in the planning stages for a mission of this
type to Southeast Asia for later this year. While
reiterating that the number of port visits by foreign
warships is limited to one event per year by Government
Decree No. 55/CP (1 October 1996),SRCOL Quan also indicated
that it might be possible to work through other ministries,
such as the Ministry of Transportation, to coordinate
specialized visits by the hydrographic and medical missions.
SRCOL Quan also noted that these visits should be conducted
to any of Vietnam's seven recognized international ports.
With respect to a potential visit by the USS PELELIU, SRCOL
Quan stated that requests to use ship-based helicopters to
ferry personnel and equipment ashore would likely not be
viewed favorably. He also was clear that such visits must be
limited to seven days or less, which is also a requirement
that is stipulated in Government Decree No. 55/CP (Article 10
of Government Decree No. 55/CP also states that the GVN may
make exceptions to this policy on a case by case basis).
SRCOL Quan suggested that any medical mission should ideally
be focused on the central region where much of PACOM,s
humanitarian assistance has been carried out in past years.
Pacific Fleet has proposed a visit window for consideration,
and USDAO is currently soliciting a GVN response.

Hai Phong Visit
--------------


11. (C) On 23 January, Admiral Roughead drove to Hai Phong
for visits to the People's Navy Medical Institute and the Hai
Long Shipyard. The People's Navy Medical Institute is
responsible for providing top-tier medical treatment for the
entire People's Navy, as well as for conducting specialized
research into illnesses and diseases related to naval
operations. It is located on the outskirts of Hai Pong city
in dilapidated facilities constructed in the mid-1970s;
however, new facilities are currently under construction in
Hai Phong City and some operations will be moved to the new
compound in late 2007.


12. (C) Senior Captain Nguyen Minh Phuong, the director of
the People's Navy Medical Institute, provided an overview
brief of the institute and its planned relocation, and she
also recommended a number of areas for future U.S.
Navy-People's Navy medical cooperation, most of which
concerned training and equipment augmentation. She also
suggested that a team of People,s Navy medical staff be
invited to tour U.S. Navy medical facilities in the United
States. During a brief tour of the facilities, SRCAPT Phuong
specifically pointed out a Soviet-made pressure chamber that
the institute had received in 1967. She noted that this
chamber and two other mobile ones are all that are currently
owned by the People's Navy Medical Branch, and she expressed
her concern that they would not be operable for much longer.
She made it clear that she hoped that the United States would
be able to assist in augmenting these assets, while also
providing access to the training and resources that would
improve the institute's ability to provide medical care,
especially in specialized areas such as the treatment of
diving-related illnesses. Finally, she made an appeal for
any medical equipment that could be used to outfit the new
medical facilities being built by the People,s Navy.


13. (C) The final visit of the trip was to the Hai Long

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Shipyard, one of a dozen or so ship construction and repair
facilities currently operated by the People,s Navy
throughout Vietnam. This particular shipyard competes for
both government and commercial contracts, and most recently
is in the final stage of completing the last of seven SAR
boats being built for Vietnam's Maritime Police. The
director of the company, Senior Captain Bach Thanh Cong,
expressed great pride that the Commander of the U.S. Pacific
Fleet had chosen to pay his company a visit, and
enthusiastically discussed the company's plans to expand its
operations in the next few years to be able to not only build
larger ships, but to also increase the rate of construction.
He also noted that they were considering equitization of the
company in the near future. While not directly related to the
proposals for expanded naval cooperation discussed during the
preceding meetings, the visit to Hai Long Shipyard was
instructive in providing insights into the state of Vietnam's
military ship-building and repair capabilities.


14. (C) The visit concluded with a dinner hosted by the
Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the People's Navy,
Rear Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh. During the dinner, RADM Minh
and his staff took the opportunity to again extensively
question Admiral Roughead about life in the U.S. Navy and the
myriad training opportunities and benefits that U.S. sailors
and naval officers receive. RADM Minh was so caught up in
the discussion and Admiral Roughead,s frank responses to his
inquiries that he had to be reminded twice that the dinner
had concluded.


15. (C) Admiral Roughead departed Hai Phong the next morning
aboard a U.S. military aircraft for Phnom Penh. This is
itself notable as Hai Phong's Cat Bi airport is not generally
considered an international airport and special permission
had to be sought not only to land and depart from this
facility with a U.S. military aircraft, but to make an
international departure from a domestic airport. The
willingness of the Vietnamese authorities to accommodate
these requests indicates the importance they attached to this
visit.

Embassy Comment
--------------


16. (C) This was a useful visit that may be looked back upon
as the event that kicked off a previously stagnant and
heretofore unproductive relationship between the U.S. Navy
and the People's Navy. A number of important initiatives
were proposed by Admiral Roughead, most of which seem to have
appealed in principle to his Vietnamese interlocutors. While
it is difficult to predict the pace with which these
initiatives can be put into place, it is clear that Vietnam's
military and civilian leadership see value in expanded naval
cooperation, even if that cooperation will remain limited to
certain predictable sectors for the foreseeable future.
However, greater cooperation with the People's Navy
represents an important milestone in a relationship that has
until now seen limited mil-mil cooperation only with
Hanoi-based military organizations, such as the Engineering
Command (demining),the Military Medical Department (PEPFAR),
and the Foreign Language Training School (IMET).


17. (SBU) This cable has been cleared by COMPACFLT.
MARINE