More natural counter-China balancing in Asia: Vietnam + US

AP story on growing mil-mil cooperation between US and Vietnam via Stewart Ross.

Cold War enemies the United States and Vietnam demonstrated their blossoming military relations Sunday as a U.S. nuclear supercarrier cruised in waters off the Southeast Asian nation's coast — sending a message that China is not the region's only big player.

The visit comes 35 years after the Vietnam War as Washington and Hanoi are cozying up in a number of areas, from negotiating a controversial deal to share civilian nuclear fuel and technology to agreeing that China needs to work with its neighbors to resolve territorial claims in the South China Sea.

But I say again, cannot the Assassin's Mace render this all asunder, with a flip of a button?

Yes, yes.  As the Pythons used to note, "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

To which I now add, "Nyyyoooooobody eck-spects the Assassin's MaSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

[It's a fair blog.]