Mr Panetta's decision to fly from Singapore to Cam Ranh Bay, a port in Vietnam, did nothing to allay their suspicions.

ECONOMIST: Military diplomacy

In Vietnam, the Soviet Union is reportedly conducting a major build-up of its naval fleet at the extensive Da Nang and Cam Ranh Bay facilities.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | A New US Policy Toward Cambodia: A Commitment To A Democratic Process

"Offering Cam Ranh Bay to foreign navies is a master stroke, " says Carlyle Thayer, a professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy at the University of New South Wales.

WSJ: Asia's New Arms Race