October 3, 2013

U.S.-Vietnam Relations in Spotlight After Blogger’s Sentencing in Hanoi

by • Le Quoc Quan

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Associated Press Le Quoc Quan, right, listens to the judge during his trial in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Associated Press
Le Quoc Quan, right, listens to the judge during his trial in Hanoi, Vietnam.

JAMES HOOKWAY
Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Embassy Quickly Issued a Statement to Criticize the Court Ruling

Vietnam’s warming relations with the U.S. appear set to hit a frosty patch after a Hanoi court Wednesday sentenced a prominent U.S.-trained human rights lawyer, one of the country’s best-known bloggers, to 30 months in prison in a tax-evasion case widely viewed to be politically motivated.

The former wartime foes have developed a growing commercial and military relationship in recent years, culminating in Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to the White House to meet President Barack Obamain July. But human rights issues continue to undermine prospects for a broader relationship, with the U.S. paying particular attention to the case of Le Quoc Quan, the 42-year-old activist sentenced Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi quickly issued a statement following Mr. Quan’s conviction, accusing Vietnam of using tax laws for political ends and urging its government to release other political prisoners. Continue Reading…

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