[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, who launched a relentless offensive against China during his tour of five South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, toned down his expressions in Vietnam, the last country on his itinerary, on the 30th.
According to AP News and others, Secretary Pompeo held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi that day and said, "We have great respect for the Vietnamese people and their sovereignty," adding, "We look forward to continuing to work together to build our relationship so that the region encompassing Southeast Asia, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific can prosper safely and peacefully."
Although Secretary Pompeo did not directly mention China, AP News interpreted his use of the word "sovereignty" as a clear opposition to China's infringement on sovereignty, especially in Asia.
In particular, Vietnam has consistently called for "respect for sovereignty" whenever territorial disputes with China arise in the South China Sea.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement ahead of Secretary Pompeo's visit to Vietnam, declaring, "The United States opposes China's territorial claims around Vanguard Bank off the coast of Vietnam."
The U.S. State Department also stated, "We will oppose any attempts to undermine a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea or elsewhere."
Prior to this, Secretary Pompeo met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that they celebrated the 25th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed to cooperate to develop bilateral relations and address trade imbalances.
Thus, Secretary Pompeo's six-day Asia tour came to an end.
Vietnam was not originally included in the Asia tour schedule but was added at the last minute due to a change in plans. Secretary Pompeo arrived in Hanoi on the night of the 29th after touring four South Asian countries?India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia?since the 25th.
In India, Secretary Pompeo said, "China is not a friend of democracy," and in Sri Lanka, he called the Chinese Communist Party a "predator." In the Maldives, he criticized, "The Chinese People's Liberation Army has illegally militarized the South China Sea."
In Indonesia, he pointed out, "The Chinese Communist Party, which advocates atheism, has tried to convince the world that the brutal treatment of Muslims in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is necessary for counterterrorism or poverty alleviation efforts," adding, "The greatest threat to the future of religious freedom is the Chinese Communist Party's war against all people of faith."
Regarding the indictment of Hong Kong student activist Tony Cheng on charges of violating the National Security Law, he issued a statement criticizing, "The Hong Kong government controlled by China continues to suppress dissenters, stifle public opinion, and use public authority for political purposes."
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