Thayer Consultancy Background Report:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

U.S.S. Carl Vinson (CVN-70) to
Visit Da Nang in March
Carlyle A. Thayer
January 27, 2018

We request your response to the following two questions:

Q1-What do you think about the fact that US Defense Secretary James Mattis said USS
Carl Vinson will visit Da Nang this March?
ANSWER: When President Trump visited Hanoi in November last year it was
announced that a U.S. aircraft carrier would be making a visit to Vietnam this year.
Since Vietnam approved friendly visits by the U.S. Navy well over a decade ago, U.S.
warships have regularly called in at Tien Sa port, Da Nang. Last year the U.S. ships went
from Da Nang to the Cam Ranh International Port. The fact that the USS Carl Vinson
(CVN-70) will be going to Da Nang is significant because it is the first visit by a U.S.
carrier to Vietnam. Second, Da Nang looks out directly on the South China Sea. This is
a reaffirmation of Vietnam’s support for a U.S. naval presence in the South China Sea
to counter balance China. Third, the visit by the USS Carl Vinson is in keeping with
Vietnam’s policy of gradually expanding defense engagement with the United States.
Q2-Why China said it would not oppose such a visit as long as such cooperation
benefits regional peace and stability?
ANSWER: China and the United States conduct military to military engagement
activities, and China receives U.S. aircraft carriers in Hong Kong. China would appear
hypocritical if it opposed the visit. Not only that, China’s actions would undercut its
own military engagement with the United States and port calls by Chinese ships to the
United States, such as Hawaii.
Both Beijing and Hanoi use the expression that they do not oppose a U.S. Naval
presence so long as it contributes regional peace and stability. This does not mean
that privately China welcomes this visit. Beijing argues that the United States is an
outside power and that because of U.S. naval patrols in the South China Sea China is
forced to take necessary measures for self-defense. This is Chinese-speak to justify it
militarization on its seven artificial islands.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “U.S.S. Carl Vinson (CVN-70) to Visit Da Nang in
March,” Thayer Consultancy Background Report, January 27, 2018. All background
briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.