Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Japanese officially send aid to Hanoi Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 19:23:58 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Japanese officially send aid to Hanoi \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT TOKYO TOKYO (AP) - Japan resumed official aid to Vietnam yesterday, becoming yet another U.S. ally expanding ties to the resource-rich southeast Asian nation despite Washington's economic embargo. "We have our policy, and the United States has its policy," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Masamichi Hanabusa as Japan offered Vietnam a loan to buy up to $370 million in commodities. "Being allies, of course, we follow the respective policies in a way that is as harmonious as possible. I do believe that the United States government understands" Japan's position, he said. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said it would have no comment on the Japanese loan. Acting Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger said last month that the possibility of Japan improving ties with Vietnam would not affect Washington's decision about whether to end the economic embargo, which prevents Vietnam from getting aid from the World Bank and other multinational forums. The Bush administration has tied mending relations to the fate of more than 2,000 Americans missing in action during the Vietnam War. Last month, Vietnam opened records that included 4,800 photographs of American war dead and prisoners. American companies urged an end to the U.S. economic embargo, saying it prevented them from competing for lucrative contracts in Vietnam. The Japanese move is the most recent sign that Washington is being left behind in the development of Vietnam. France and Italy are among other U.S. allies that resumed official aid to the communist nation in recent years. Japan, which joined other countries in freezing aid to Vietnam after its 1978 invasion of Cambodia, said yesterday the resumption of aid was intended to contribute to Hanoi's efforts at economic openness and market-oriented reform. Japanese companies, which had curtailed trade with and investment in Vietnam in deference to the U.S. economic embargo, have rapidly expanded business ties, particularly since a Cambodian peace accord was signed a year ago. Trade between Japan and Vietnam reached $879 million last year, up about 125 percent from 1988, and several Japanese companies sent representatives to Vietnam to scout investment possibilities. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM