China Responds to Plans to Send F-16 Fighter Jets to Vietnam

  A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to the possibility of sending US F-16 fighter jets to Vietnam by saying, "Cooperation between the two countries should not lead to an arms race in Asia." Reuters news agency reported Monday that advisers to US President Joe Biden's administration were negotiating with Vietnam on the biggest arms deal between the two sides, prompting a reaction from Beijing. Reuters reported that this agreement is still in the early stages and there is a possibility that it cannot be completed according to the wishes of the Americans and Vietnamese. The Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday (26/9/2023) that Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a press conference on Monday afternoon local time, "Beijing hopes that the relevant countries (US-Vietnam) will comply with the norms basic norms governing international relations." "Vietnam and the United States should put aside the mentality of hegemony and cold war, and refrain from triggering disputes and arms races, and not endanger regional peace, stability, development and prosperity," said Wang Wenbin. Vietnam spends about two billion dollars annually on arms imports, and Washington is optimistic that it can allocate some of this budget in the long term to the arsenals of the United States or its allies and partners, especially South Korea and India.