The First U.S. Diplomat in Vietnam After 1975: “An Impressive 25-year Journey”
7/14/2020, VOA Vietnam
Translated from: VOA news
Chris Runckel, the first US diplomat to Vietnam, told VOA that the 25-year diplomatic relationship between the two former enemies was “very impressive and commendable.” From the beginning with many suspicions and doubts, now Washington and Hanoi are friends, which a quarter of a century ago hardly anyone could think of.
From 1969 to 1970, Mr. Runckel came to Vietnam, served in the U.S. military for 19 months and after the war, he joined the U.S. Department of State, working in Bangkok to arrange the resettlement of Vietnamese people in humanitarian programs.
In January 1994, he was assigned to be the United States Special Negotiator for Vietnam and began to visit Hanoi regularly to discuss handover of U.S. government land and buildings before 1975; the return of property of US individuals and companies after the fall of Saigon; as well as diplomatic, consular and other matters. He was also the first U.S. diplomat to start planning for the opening of a new Embassy in Hanoi.
Mr. Runckel told VOA about the initial difficulties:
“At first the relationship on both sides was that none of us really knew much about the other. And there was a lot of doubt from both sides.”
– Chris Runckel, the first U.S. diplomat to Vietnam to prepare for normalizing the relationship between the two countries.
On February 3, 1994, when U.S. President Bill Clinton lifted the trade embargo against Vietnam, Chris Runckel was present in Hanoi. However, his family had to stay in a hotel for 7 months, unable to go out to rent a house or apartment because the two sides ” kept putting pressure on each other because the negotiations were not finalized.”
Mr. Runckel told VOA about the initial difficulties:
“At first the relationship on both sides was that none of us really knew much about the other. And there was a lot of doubt from both sides.”
He shared that it was not until the two sides signed a final agreement on opening a Liaison Office in Hanoi on January 28, 1995 that he was given the key to a small, empty house, rented from the Diplomatic Services Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Ton That Thiep Street. The next day, he flew into Saigon to receive U.S. government diplomatic properties, including the U.S. Embassy before 1975, which is now home to the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. “While it may sound simple, reaching this agreement took a lot of time and a lot of discussion and it required persuasion,” he added.
On July 11, 1995, U.S. President Bill Clinton announced an agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries and on August 5, 1995, U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher inaugurated the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, formerly known as the U.S. Liaison Office led by Chris Runckel.
“President Clinton had a broad vision, setting aside the war and trying to establish a new relationship with Vietnam,” recalls Chris Runckel.
Commenting on U.S.-Vietnam relations after 25 years of diplomatic relationship, Chris Runckel, currently the founder and Chairman of business investment consulting firm Runckel & Associates based in Portland, Oregon, told VOA:
“I think what impresses me most is that the relationship has become stronger. Vietnam and the United States have come to know and support each other on any matters you can think of, from health to culture, to trade relations.” Thanks to this relationship, millions and millions of people have escaped poverty in the last twenty-five years.
“Thanks to this relationship, millions and millions of people have escaped poverty in the last twenty-five years. Perhaps nearly 50 million people in Vietnam have escaped from poverty and now have a chance to have a better life”, he added.
Because of his contributions to improving U.S. – Vietnam relations, an important bridge for future diplomatic achievements, in 1997, Mr. Runckel was awarded the U.S. State Department’s highest award, Distinguished Honor Award. He is one of two people, not U.S. ambassadors, who received this award throughout the 200 years of US diplomacy.
Commenting on the U.S. – Vietnam relationship now and in the future, the former U.S. diplomat said:
“I think Vietnam is doing a very good job so far in building a better and stronger relationship with the United States.”
On the U.S. side, he said: “One of the most important things is that we give others respect and acknowledge that they have a different political system from us. They have a different culture, a different history from us. But we owe them respect.”
“We need to listen to what they want to say. Although we choose different paths due to different histories and cultures, we must listen and respect them in moving forward.”
