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Vietnam Tacks Between Cooperation and Struggle in the South China Sea
Vietnam Tacks Between Cooperation and Struggle in the South China Sea
Table of Contents
  1. Principal Findings
  2. Executive Summary
  3. Introduction
  4. Historical Background
  5. The Making of Vietnam’s South China Sea Policy
  6. Responding to an Increasingly Assertive China
    1. Engaging China
    2. Upgrading Military and Maritime Law Enforcement Capabilities
    3. Preparing for Legal Battles
    4. ASEAN Mechanisms and the South China Sea Code of Conduct
    5. Deepening Strategic Cooperation with Major Powers
      1. United States
      2. Japan
      3. Russia
      4. India
  7. Substantive Issues
    1. Territories
    2. Fisheries
    3. Oil and Gas
  8. The Way Forward
  9. Conclusion
  10. Appendix A: Map of the South China Sea
  11. Appendix B: Map of the Occupation in the Spratlys
  12. Appendix C: Recommendations
An officer of the Vietnamese Marine Guard speaks on a radio as he monitors a Chinese coast guard vessel (top) on the South China Sea, about 210 km (130 miles) offshore of Vietnam May 15, 2014. REUTERS/Nguyen Minh
Report 318 / Asia

Vietnam Tacks Between Cooperation and Struggle in the South China Sea

Together with the Philippines, Vietnam is on the front line of maritime disputes with China. The risk of armed confrontation is low but growing. Hanoi should redouble efforts to build confidence, starting with less sensitive issues, and to establish an effective Code of Conduct.