Tom Pepinsky, a Southeast Asia expert and associate professor of government at Cornell University, says that Obama’s decision to end its embargo on arm sales to Vietnam is the final step in normalizing relations between the two countries, but it is also driven by regional concerns.
Bio: http://government.arts.cornell.edu/faculty/pepinsky/
Pepinsky says:
“The end of the U.S. embargo on lethal weapons exports to Vietnam represents one of the final steps in the normalization of U.S. – Vietnamese relations, a process begun under Bill Clinton in 1995 and supported by both the Bush and Obama administrations.
“However, this decision is ultimately driven by regional concerns, with Vietnam emerging as a key strategic partner for the United States.
“Given their long historical rivalry, and renewed tensions over the South China Sea in recent months, China-Vietnam relations are currently at a sensitive juncture. Although the Obama administration denies that continued tensions in the South China Sea are at the heart of its decision to resume arms exports to Vietnam, this decision signals U.S. plans to contain China's regional ambitions with Vietnam as a partner.”
Cornell University has television, ISDN and dedicated Skype/Google+ Hangout studios available for media interviews.
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