Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data for: Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay port terminal
data for: Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Airport

newspaper freelance writer Malan

U.S. Navy,” Washington “nuclear aircraft carrier appeared on August 8 Vietnam Da Nang area, then the international media on the United States and Vietnam launched repeated military cooperation report. Some sharp-eyed observers, put their attention away from the natural harbor near Da Nang – Cam Ranh Bay. Cam Ranh Bay is actually kind of a place that historically coveted by many countries? With the United States and Vietnam continue to close, there is likely to be settled in the U.S. aircraft carrier? In June, the Vietnamese living in Australia scholar Li Guidun (sound), worked in Hong Kong, “Asia-Pacific Defense” magazine published an article analyzing the Cam Ranh Bay military value.

favorable conditions coveted by multinational

Cam Ranh Bay is one of the world’s best natural deep-water port, the more words in Italian for “water park.” It is located in the southeast coast of Vietnam, Khanh Hoa Province, 12 degrees north latitude line, surrounded by about 400 meters high surrounded by mountains, deep inland harbor up to 17 km wide and 6 km water area of ??100 square kilometers. Bay, the average water depth 16-25 m, maximum depth of 32 meters. As the depth of Bay wide, including the harbor can accommodate aircraft carriers, including the one hundred tons of large ships.

Kong branch of naval and commercial ports within the two regions. Cam Ranh naval base which is located in the east coast town of Port depth of 14 meters, the main terminal 6, the shipyard can repair large ships and the construction of small ships, as well as oil depots, ammunition depots, and munitions warehouses and other support facilities, electronic surveillance and communications systems also more complete. Outer Bay also known as flat bar, with an average water depth of 10-22 meters. Port transportation, rail and highways, in sworn 8 kilometers north of the town there is a military airport.

Cam Ranh Bay as a unique geographical conditions, history, the number of military power was as a naval base, including Russia’s second Pacific Fleet, the French colonists in the Far East Fleet, during World War II and the Japanese combined fleet Vietnam War when the U.S. Navy. April 1975, North Vietnamese troops occupied the Cam Ranh Bay. Four years later, Hanoi will be leased to the Soviet Union, free Cam Ranh Bay, a term of 25 years.

into the Soviet Navy, once the bridgehead

the Cold War, Cam Ranh Bay to the Soviet Union has an important strategic value. Cam Ranh Bay to the Soviet Pacific Fleet bridgehead to project power into the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, both against the United States was in the Philippines, South Korea and Japan based group, also can be formed from the south of China to contain. Peak strength, the Soviet Union stationed in Cam Ranh Bay dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft, troops and their dependents up to people, known as the Soviet Union’s largest overseas base. Stations located in the local intelligence to track the ships sailing in the depths of the South China Sea, and monitor the U.S. military in the Philippines, Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Force Base.

Soviet Union, Russia inherited its strategic interests in Southeast Asia, but the economic collapse of the Moscow can not afford the high cost of maintaining overseas bases. Russian military presence of the latter part of Cam Ranh Bay base has actually empty, the majority of aging or damaged facilities, airport runways have been unable to guarantee the safety of aircraft taking off and landing, had caused the plane crash tragedy. Taking into account its military continued to decline, a large number of troops deployed in Southeast Asia, the possibility of near zero, only an early goodbye to Moscow Cam Ranh Bay.

2001 年 10 17, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, due to financial constraints, can not continue to support the normal operation of the Cam Ranh Bay base. The second year, the Russian military withdrawal in batches Cam Ranh Bay, the area immediately recovered by the Vietnamese Government.

unique position to control the South China Sea

However, based on the Cam Ranh Bay, an important strategic position, calm destined not to last long. Especially in the Obama administration, the United States several high-profile announcement to “return to Southeast Asia”, stationed in Cam Ranh Bay on the U.S. military intends to rumors from time to time. Position on the Cam Ranh Bay, it more than Singapore’s Changi, Yokosuka, Japan, Busan, South Korea, Guam Apra other bases are closer to the South China Sea “hot spots.” Stockholm Peace Research Institute has released a report, the United States if the rent Cam Ranh Bay, it means strangling the throat of the South China Sea; Cam Ranh Bay on the South China Sea islands and reefs of any control, are higher than China’s current naval base.

article further analysis, standing in the position of the United States, its first for Vietnam agreed to open ports to U.S. ships to dock for a rest. In May 2005, the Pentagon proposed a “base restructuring and closure recommendations” report, plans for a major adjustment of global military bases. Specific to Southeast Asia, the United States is usually made by agreement the right to use the port, in addition to Singapore, other ASEAN countries are in this mode, this will help reduce the chances of political disputes.

of Vietnam, Cam Ranh Bay back is not necessarily non-rental. The article said that as Vietnam’s reform and opening up, adjust its military strategy, “Lu Shouhai into” that “rely on the sea defense, shallow depth to ease the land,” the defense thinking. In this context, to ensure the control of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam has become increasingly prominent national security significance.

Vietnam in the past century been subjected to aggression, the “foreign troops” should be very sensitive issues. However, although Hanoi made Cam Ranh Bay “no outsiders” attitude, but in fact, here in the eyes of the researchers of international relations is still “up for grabs.” Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam have every reason to become a big deal between the country’s trump card.