Vietnam has shown interest in opening Cam Ranh Bay to our Navy’s use, and that interest has grown as the People’s Republic of China has increased its aggressiveness in occupying the South China Sea and interfering with other nations’ activities in their waters in the Sea—in particular here Vietnam’s use of its Paracel Islands, in which the PRC is building air bases for the PLA Air Force.

The Obama administration has been less interested in taking advantage of the opening while it has been responding timidly to the PRC’s occupation.

Now this.

Three Chinese navy ships will make their first port call this weekend at the Vietnam’s strategic Cam Ranh Bay, coming as the countries are locked in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Just to emphasize the matter, the PLA Navy’s visit comes on the heels of a visit to the port by two USN ships, and it comes while Vietnam and the PRC continue to dispute ownership of the Paracels.