ABSTRACT
This is a book about Vietnam’s maritime posture under the shadow of a rising Chinese Dragon. It systematically traces continuity and changes in Vietnam’s approach to the South China Sea – which is referred to as the East Sea (Bien Dong) in Vietnam – in the post-Cold War period. Vietnam’s evolving maritime interests and claims are situated in the interplay of a global milieu and national politics that infl uence the foreign policy decision-making circle in Hanoi. But essentially, the book is all about Hanoi’s strategic thinking and how it has been played out in Vietnam’s attempts to defend its offshore interests, deny foreign control of the sea area critical to its national security, and shape strategic seascape beyond its shore. The study’s major fi nding is that Beijing’s maritime assertiveness made it diffi cult for Vietnam to maintain a traditional friendship with China. It is argued that concerns about China’s attempts to control the South China Sea have driven Vietnam to increase its national strength and resilience and expand economic and security relations with other big powers.
