|
 The response appeared to fall short of the immediate halt to land
reclamation activity and further militarization of the islands that
Carter sought in an initial appeal last week in Hawaii, and again at
a security conference in Singapore.
Carter told a joint news conference with Defense Minister Phung
Quang Thanh that he and the general had discussed his proposal for a
permanent halt to reclamation and militarization of the islands and
that Vietnam was considering the idea.
The U.S. defense secretary, who is on an 11-day trip to the
Asia-Pacific, has focused on maritime security in his public remarks
amid concerns about the implications of China's massive
island-building effort, which has added 2,000 acres (809 hectares)
of land in about 18 months, most of it this year.
Carter has acknowledged that other countries have conducted
reclamation projects in the region, including partners like Vietnam,
and urged them all to stop. But he said China's activity had
outstripped the others and was undermining security, a charge that
Beijing has rejected.
 At the news conference, Thanh and Carter were questioned whether the
U.S. defense chief had asked Vietnam to stop land reclamation
activity. Thanh said the two sides had discussed the issue.
"Vietnam has recently conducted consolidation on the islands under
Vietnam's sovereignty," Thanh told reporters, noting that Vietnamese
troops were stationed on nine "floating islands" and 12 "submerged
islands" in the region.
"On the floating islands, we conducted embankment (consolidation) to
prevent them from waves and erosion, to ensure safety for the people
and the soldiers stationed on the islands," he said.
"On the submerged islands, we only built small houses, which can
accommodate a few people and we are not expanding. The scope and
characteristic of our work is purely civilian."
[to top of second column] |
Submerged islands feature underwater reefs, while floating islands
are those with surfaces above the water or which can be built from
submerged islands, by adding steel structure, soil, rocks and
concrete.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said later that
Vietnam distinguishes its activity from that of China's, saying that
it conducts work to maintain buildings erected some time ago and
work to prevent wave erosion.
The official indicated that Carter would like to have clearer
distinctions between what is new construction that would be barred
and what is maintenance that might be permitted.
Carter and Thanh also signed a Joint Vision Statement to guide
future military cooperation between the former foes, who fought a
1955-1975 war and only normalized ties 20 years ago.
As part of the expanding cooperation, Carter announced the United
States would help Vietnam set up a site to train troops for U.N.
peacekeeping operations and would send a U.S. expert on peacekeeping
to Hanoi.
On Sunday, Carter visited the Vietnamese navy and coast guard
headquarters and pledged $18 million to help Vietnam buy U.S. patrol
boats.
(Additional reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Paul Tait)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
