Vietnam rejects false claims on collaboration with US in wartime missing accounting

Responding to a reporter’s inquiry on Saturday about Vietnam's reaction to a recent report from the U.S.-based National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, spokesperson of the ministry Pham Thu Hang stated, “These are distorted, false claims, and we resolutely oppose them.”

Humanitarian cooperation in the search and accounting for U.S. service members missing in action during the war in Vietnam has been actively and effectively implemented by the governments of Vietnam and the U.S. for more than 50 years, helping to identify and repatriate the remains of thousands of U.S. personnel, Hang stressed.

“This is a deeply meaningful result that has contributed to promoting bilateral cooperation in war legacy issues and serves as vivid evidence of humanitarian spirit, helping to build and strengthen mutual trust and friendship between Vietnam and the U.S.,” she noted.

Vietnam’s efforts in this area have been consistently recognized and highly valued by the U.S., which regards it as a model for international cooperation, she said.

The spokesperson affirmed that in the future, both countries will continue to fully collaborate in line with the spirit of the joint statement on elevating Vietnam-U.S. ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

The MIA cooperation began shortly after the 1973 Paris Peace Accords and has since yielded positive results.

Nearly 750 sets of remains of American personnel missing in the war have been recovered and identified through joint efforts.

Vietnam and the United States on July 25 held the 170th repatriation ceremony in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, during which Vietnam handed over three sets of remains to the U.S. side.

During his visit to Vietnam from July 8 to 12, director of the U.S. Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency Kelly McKeague expressed deep gratitude to the Vietnamese government, the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons, local authorities, and communities for their dedicated support and facilitation of the search and recovery missions.

He reaffirmed that he and his agency would continue to voice support to the U.S. Congress, government, and institutions for the maintenance of stable bilateral relations and the expansion of war legacy cooperation programs in Vietnam.