From AFP
Members of the Vietnamese Community chant and sing during a protest in front of the White House on July 25, 2013 during the visit of Vietnamese President President Truong Tan Sang (AFP/File, Karen Bleier)
Washington — US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State John Kerry to press Vietnam on human rights when he visits this weekend, saying he should link progress to a trade deal.
Kerry arrives Saturday in Vietnam, where he fought during the war, for a visit in which he plans to highlight growing trade and security ties since the countries normalized relations two decades ago.
In a letter to Kerry, 47 members of the House of Representatives from across the political spectrum said Vietnam’s human rights record was worsening through its growing arrests of bloggers and activists.
The lawmakers voiced concern about Vietnam’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a vast trade agreement under negotiation that has been a centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s efforts to boost the US presence in Asia.
“Any further economic ties, specifically trade agreements, should be contingent on the condition of human rights in Vietnam,” the lawmakers wrote.
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