General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that "in the near term" there would be a discussion in the United States about whether to lift the ban introduced over human rights concerns.
Dempsey was speaking to reporters in southern Ho Chi Minh City during a four-day visit to the country during which he has met top military officials to discuss strengthening military cooperation.
"The maritime domain is the place of our greatest common interest right now... and my recommendation if the ban is lifted will be that we start with that," he said.
Dempsey said he was not asking Vietnam "to choose between being a friend of the United States and a friend of China."
"We've been very clear that we don't take sides in territorial disputes, but we do care very much about how they're resolved," Dempsey said, adding it was "unfortunate" that China had not accepted a proposed freeze on provocative acts in disputed waters.
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