China's mining project in Nevada declined by the Obama administration

In a recent New York Time article "Chinese Withdraw Offer for Nevada Gold Concern" reported that China's plan to invest in a mining company in Nevada was denied after Obama administration officials raised national security concerns in the deal. The parallelism of China's intention in Nevada and Tay Nguyen is alarmingly clear; China wants to secure and expand its global supply of precious metals (e.g. aluminum, uranium, zinc), along with its ulterior motive of undermining the national security of other nations. China's investment attempt in Nevada was denied due to its proximity of "the Fallon Naval Air Station, as well as other sensitive and classified security and military assets that cannot be identified,” according to Treasury officials. In the United States all foreigners trying to acquire critical American assets will be examined by a review panel from the Treasury Department. However, the situation in Vietnam is less transparent. Even with public scrutiny and rejection by many experts and officials things can still find its way to move forward, and that is a very dangerous situation in Vietnam. There are no independent panel set-up to review and protect key national resources. At the time of this writing China's mining project in Tay Nguyen is still underway. Why it must be stopped: Bauxite Mining in Tay Nguyen - An environmental massacre.

Sweden and Vietnam: A new partnership Part I

Gripen for India

Gripen for Brasil

Through partnership with Saab AB both Brasil and India will be potential exporters of combat aircraft like Sweden by 2020. Saab also has entered into a partnership with Thailand company Avia Satcom Co. Ltd., to form a joint venture for developing high technology products within aviation and defence. This is a great model for Vietnam to adapt for high-tech economic development, and advance its aerospace industry. To make such partnership possible Vietnam will need to develop the support industries in the area of defense, and doing so enable it to move higher up in the global supply chain. Saab Gripen NG is comparable to Lockeed JSF F-35 (available in 2012 and expected to be in service until 2040). However, it is important to note that the F-35 will be the last manned combat aircraft that the United States will develop, as unmanned aircraft system (UAS) will dominate the future of military and civil aviation.

JSF @ The National Air and Space Museum - Chantilly, VA

Sweden foreign policy and military capability had allowed the country to maintain its independence and neutrality throughout the World Wars and Cold War. During the Cold War, Sweden pursued a security policy based on strong national defenses aimed to discourage attack from its powerful neighbor in the East. In designing its fighter aircraft Draken & Viggen (the older brethrens of Gripen), one of the main requirements was that it must have good short-runway performance that could land and take off on roads and highways, in case Swedish military and airports were overrun. Undersea, the Swedish Gotland class diesel-electric submarines are believed to be the most advanced in the world. In 2005 the US Navy decided to lease the Swedish commanded HMS-Gotland for two years. In the wargaming exercise in San Diego, the HMS-Gotland effectively succeeded in sinking the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier.

In the ultra competitive defense industry, home of the Nobel Prize is willing to share some of its R&D to key partners that will play a major role in maintaining regional security. Thailand has signed on, Brasil and India ventures are in the pipeline. It is time for Vietnam to evaluate the alternatives of being an ardent importer of military arms, and seek out co-development opportunities and partnerships that will cement its independent spirit. Aside from gaining the technical know-how through partnership with Saab AB, Sweden's history offer an invaluable case-study for Vietnam. [I will dwell into more details in Part II of this topic.]

Bauxite Mining in Tay Nguyen - An Environmental Massacre

Seventy-five miles (120 km) west of Van Phong Bay lies the high-land region of Tay Nguyen. It is often called the "Rooftop of the Southeast," because it is the apex of Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia. When North Vietnamese forces gained control of Tay Nguyen on 12 March 1975, the defensive vulnerability of Saigon was exposed, the war then quickly came to an end on 30 April 1975. Many military experts have acknowledged the strategic importance of the region.

Tay Nguyen is an area that contains more than 8 billion tonnes of bauxite reserve, the third largest of its kind in the world or about one-fifth of the world total reserves. Bauxite production is processed into aluminum, where one of the main uses is for weaponry development, (aircraft, arms and missiles) which Vietnam neither consume nor develop at this time. Bauxite mining, therefore, is mainly for export to serve the need and demand of major arms-developing countries such as United States, Russia, and particularly China - the major investor behind the projects in Tay Nguyen. Although anxious to modernize its armed forces, China doesn't want to develop bauxite inside its border. Last year, even with nearly $2 billion USD already invested, China decided to pull the plug at the 11th hour, citing environmental concerns. Since then, China has aggressively and eagerly sent thousands of its workers into Vietnam to expedite the mining projects in Tay Nguyen.

Despite objections from Vo Nguyen Giap and other prominent members of the one-party state, Vietnam's central party still gave bauxite mining the green light. It led to outcry by leading scientists whose findings concluded that the risks far outweigh the benefits. The electrolytic process of turning bauxite into aluminum requires massive amount of electricity, water and gas - up to 16,000 KW of electricity per ton of aluminum produced. Vietnam cannot afford to waste those scarce resources for aluminum at this time. Furthermore, that process produces toxic red mud that will be dumped in the ground. Rainfall would then sunk the toxic waste into the groundwater, streams, and rivers - effectively polluting the entire region's water resource from highland to lowland. Australia is currently the biggest aluminum producer in the world, however, its vast desert and dry weather allow the toxic red sludge to be dumped hundreds of miles away from human habitation. Vietnam is not Australia, and cannot afford to turn fertile land into red desert wasteland. Its tropical climate and heavy rainfall make it unsuitable. Furthermore, to make room for the mining and dumping site, thousands of families would have to be displaced, and thousands more trees have to be chopped down.

The irreversible social and environmental consequences are dead serious. To proceed with bauxite mining would be absolutely irresponsible, a massacre on the grandest scale to the environment. What gives for a few dollars more. What could possibly be more important than national security and interests, environmental care, and care for humanity.

We call on all concerned groups, individuals, officials to engage the parties involved and seek an immediate halt to the bauxite projects in Tay Nguyen. Last year, public opinion and participation had successfully thwarted an ill-conceived plan to build a steel mill project in Van Phong Bay. Can public opinion and the people steer the one-party state in the right direction again?