{
  "id": "R40208",
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      "id": 432253,
      "date": "2014-06-24",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T20:18:48.276569",
      "title": "U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2014: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy",
      "summary": "After communist North Vietnam\u2019s victory over U.S.-backed South Vietnam in 1975, the United States and Vietnam had minimal relations until the mid-1990s. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995, overlapping security and economic interests have led the two sides to expand relations across a wide range of sectors. In 2013, President Obama and his Vietnamese counterpart announced a \u201ccomprehensive partnership\u201d that is to provide a framework for moving the relationship to a \u201cnew phase.\u201d A key factor driving the two countries together is a shared concern about China\u2019s increased assertiveness in Southeast Asia, particularly in the South China Sea. \nIn 2014, the 113th Congress is likely to confront four inter-related issues with respect to U.S. relations with Vietnam: a 2014 bilateral nuclear energy cooperation agreement; Vietnam\u2019s participation with the United States in the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement negotiations; questions about how the United States can influence human rights conditions inside Vietnam; and a debate over bilateral security ties, including whether to consider relaxing restrictions on military sales to Vietnam. \nU.S. and Vietnamese Interests\nIn the United States, voices favoring improved relations have included those reflecting U.S. business interests in Vietnam\u2019s growing economy and U.S. strategic interests in expanding cooperation with a populous country\u2014Vietnam has over 90 million people\u2014that has an ambivalent relationship with China. Others argue that improvements in bilateral relations should be contingent upon Vietnam\u2019s authoritarian government improving its record on human rights. The population of more than 1 million Vietnamese Americans, as well as legacies of the Vietnam War, also drive continued U.S. interest.\nVietnamese leaders have sought to upgrade relations with the United States in part due to the desire for continued access to the U.S. market and to their worries about China\u2019s expanding influence in Southeast Asia. That said, Vietnam\u2019s relationship with China is its most important. Also, some Vietnamese officials remain suspicious that the United States\u2019 long-term goal is to erode the Vietnamese Communist Party\u2019s (VCP\u2019s) monopoly on power. \nEconomic Ties\nThe United States is Vietnam\u2019s largest export market and in some years its largest source of foreign direct investment. Bilateral trade in 2013 was almost $30 billion, a more than 60% increase since 2010. The United States and Vietnam are 2 of 12 countries negotiating the TPP. To go into effect, legislation to implement a TPP agreement (if one is reached) would require approval by both houses of Congress. Since the late 2000s, annual U.S. aid typically surpasses $100 million, much of it for health-related activities.\nHuman Rights\nHuman rights are perhaps the most contentious issue in the relationship. Although disagreements over Vietnam\u2019s human rights record have not prevented the two sides from improving relations, they appear to limit the pace and extent of these improvements. Vietnam is a one-party, authoritarian state ruled by the VCP, which appears to be following a strategy of informally permitting (though not necessarily legalizing) most forms of personal and religious expression while selectively repressing individuals and organizations that it deems a threat to the party\u2019s monopoly on power. Most human rights observers contend that for the past several years, the government has intensified its suppression of dissenters and protestors.\nSome human rights advocates have argued that the United States should use Vietnam\u2019s participation in the TPP talks as leverage to pressure Hanoi to improve the country\u2019s human rights situation. Also, since the 107th Congress, various legislative attempts have been made to link the provision of U.S. aid, as well as arms sales, to Vietnam\u2019s human rights record. \nU.S.-Vietnam Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement \nIn May 2014 the Obama transmitted to Congress a U.S.-Vietnam nuclear energy cooperation agreement, under which the United States could license the export of nuclear reactor and research information, material, and equipment to Vietnam. S.J.Res. 36, S.J.Res. 39, and H.J.Res. 116 would approve the agreement, which will enter into force upon the 90th day of continuous session after its submittal to Congress (a period of 30 plus 60 days of review) unless Congress enacts a Joint Resolution of disapproval.",
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        {
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          "id": 278,
          "name": "China, Taiwan, and Mongolia"
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          "id": 473,
          "name": "Southeast Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific Islands"
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      "id": "R40208_2013Jun19",
      "date": "2013-06-19",
      "retrieved": "2013-11-05T18:07:05",
      "title": "U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2013: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy",
      "summary": "Report that discusses the diplomatic relation between United States and Vietnam that was established in 1995. Topics include issues U.S. and Vietnamese interest, economic ties, and human rights.",
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          "id": "Foreign policy",
          "name": "Foreign policy"
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          "id": "Foreign relations -- Vietnam -- U.S.",
          "name": "Foreign relations -- Vietnam -- U.S."
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          "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Vietnam",
          "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Vietnam"
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          "id": "Politics and government",
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          "id": "Human rights",
          "name": "Human rights"
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      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc86547/",
      "id": "R40208_2012May18",
      "date": "2012-05-18",
      "retrieved": "2012-06-15T10:07:48",
      "title": "U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2011: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy",
      "summary": "In 2010 the US and Vietnam mobilized a multinational response to China's perceived attempts to boost its claims to disputed waters and islands in the South China Sea. This report looks at how various issues (US interests, Vietnamese interests, economic ties, and human rights) can affect this burgeoning relationship.",
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          "id": "Foreign policy",
          "name": "Foreign policy"
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          "id": "Foreign relations - Vietnam - U.S.",
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          "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Vietnam",
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      "id": "R40208_2011Jul26",
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      "id": "R40208_2011Feb04",
      "date": "2011-02-04",
      "retrieved": "2012-09-19T20:16:14",
      "title": "U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2010: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy",
      "summary": "This report looks at issues that impact the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam such as: goals and interests by both countries in a bilateral relationship, economic and trade issues, human rights, U.S. foreign assistance to Vietnam, and recent Vietnamese political events.",
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      "id": "R40208_2010Aug06",
      "date": "2010-08-06",
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      "title": "U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2010: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy",
      "summary": "This report looks at issues that impact the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam such as: goals and interests by both countries in a bilateral relationship, economic and trade issues, human rights, U.S. foreign assistance to Vietnam, and recent Vietnamese political events.",
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      "summary": "This report looks at issues that impact the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam such as: goals and interests by both countries in a bilateral relationship, economic and trade issues, human rights, U.S. foreign assistance to Vietnam, and recent Vietnamese political events.",
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      "id": "R40208_2009Jul29",
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      "summary": "This report provides an overview of U.S. relations with Vietnam, including policy issues, the economic and political situation in Vietnam, and a list of pertinent legislation.",
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  "topics": [
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