Non-traditional Security Complex in the South China Sea: Vietnam’s Perspectives and Policy Implications

Authors

  • Xuan Cuong Nguyen Institute of Chinese Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
  • Nghiem Tuan Hung Institute of World Economics and Politics, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14666/2194-7759-10-2-004

Keywords:

South China Sea, Vietnam, China, non-traditional security

Abstract

The South China Sea (SCS) is one of the busiest maritime area in the world. In the SCS, there are a number of outstanding non-traditional security issues. After reviewing perspectives of Vietnam on non-traditional security issues, the article focuses on newly emerging issues, such as maritime security, freedom of navigation, marine environment and resources exploitation in the SCS. The article argues that the main factor making the situation more complicated is China due to its territorial and resource ambitions. However, when it comes to the SCS issue, it is not only about differences, disputes, and complicated developments, but also about cooperation. Although the benefits are diverse, efforts to build confidence and promote cooperation between countries should be recognized. Among the disputing parties, Vietnam always seeks to resolve the issues as soon as possible with the most actively proposed idea called the model of cooperation for mutual development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

References

BBC (2020), Viet Nam va My ky 7 thoa thuan hop tac tri gia hang ti dola [Vietnam and the US signed 7 cooperation agreements worth billions of dollars], available at <https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/business-54655446>, (accessed 18 April 2021).

Bo Quoc phong [Ministry of Defence] (2004), Quoc phong Viet Nam nhung nam dau the ky XXI (Sach trang Quoc phong Viet Nam 2004), [Vietnam’s National Defence in the Early Years of the 21st Century (Vietnam’s White Book of National Defence 2004)], Hanoi: Bo Quoc phong.

Bo Quoc phong [Ministry of Defence] (2009), Quoc phong Viet Nam (Sach trang Quoc phong Viet Nam 2009 [Vietnam’s National Defence (Vietnam’s White Book of National Defence 2009)], Hanoi: Bo Quoc phong.

Bo Quoc phong [Ministry of Defence] (2019), Quoc phong Viet Nam 2019 (Sach trang Quoc phong Viet Nam 2019 [Vietnam’s National Defence 2019 (Vietnam’s White Book of National Defence 2019)], Hanoi: Bo Quoc phong.

Cuong, Le Van (2008), “Tac dong cua nhan to an ninh phi truyen thong doi voi van hoa va con nguoi o mot so nuoc Dong A” [Impacts of Non-traditional Security on Culture and Human of East Asian nations’, Tap chi Thong tin Khoa hoc xa hoi, No. 9.

Dang Cong san Viet Nam [Communist Party of Vietnam] (2011), Van kien Dai hoi dai bieu toan quoc lan thu XI [Document of the 11th National Congress], Hanoi: Chinh tri Quoc gia Publishing House.

Dang Cong san Viet Nam [Communist Party of Vietnam] (2016), Van kien dai hoi Dang toan quoc lan thu XII, [Document of the 12th National Congress], Hanoi: Chinh tri Quoc gia Publishing House.

Dang Cong san Viet Nam [Communist Party of Vietnam] (2021), Chien luoc phat trien kinh te – xa hoi 10 nam 2021-2030, [Strategy for socio-economic development in the decade 2021-2030], available at <https://tulieuvankien.dangcongsan.vn/ban-chap-hanh-trung-uong-dang/dai-hoi-dang/lan-thu-xiii/chien-luoc-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-10-nam-2021-2030-3671>, (accessed 20 March 2021).

Duong, Luan Thuy et al (2010), “Cac thach thuc an ninh phi truyen thong o khu vuc Dong Nam A” [Non-traditional security challenges in Southeast Asia], in Minh, Pham Binh (2010), Cuc dien the gioi den 2020 [World Affairs by 2020], Hanoi: Chinh tri Quoc gia Publishing House.

Ha, Tran Thi (2017), “Mot so thach thuc an ninh phi truyen thong o Dong Nam A hien nay” [Some non-traditional security challenges in Southeast Asia today’], Tap chi Nghien cuu Dong Nam A, Vol. 212, No. 11.

Hoang, Dam Huy (2018), “Hop tac cua ASEAN ve chong o nhiem moi truong o bien Dong tu nam 2003 den nay” [ASEAN cooperation on combating environmental pollution in the SCS since 2003], Tap chi Nghien cuu Dong Nam A, Vol. 222, No. 9.

Hoang Viet (2010), “Giai phap nao cho tranh chap bien Dong?” [What are the solutions for SCS dispute?], Tap chi Thoi dai moi, No. 19, available at <http://www.tapchithoidai.org/ThoiDai19/201019_HoangViet.htm> ((accessed 15 April 2020)

Hoi, Nguyen Chu (2018), “Phat trien kinh te bien xan de giau tu bien”, [Developing blue sea economy to get rich from the sea], VOV News, available at <https://vov.vn/kinh-te/phat-trien-kinh-te-bien-xanh-de-giau-tu-bien-822093.vov> (accessed 31 March 2020)

Khiem, Pham Gia (2010), “Doi ngoai Viet Nam nam 2009: Vuot qua thach thuc, vung buoc vao nam 2010” [Vietnam’s foreign affairs in 2009: Overcoming challenges and heading toward 2010], Tap chi Cong san, No. 807, pp. 7-13.

Tien, Tran Nam (2014), “Hop tac giai quyet xung dot bien Dong hien nay – Mot so goi y tu goc nhin cua Viet Nam” [Cooperation for conflict settlement in the SCS – Suggestions from Vietnam’ viewpoint], Tap chi Phat trien Khoa hoc va Cong nghe, Vol. 17, No. X1, pp. 59-77.

Vinh, Vo Xuan (2018), “Nan cuop bien o Dong Nam A tu khi chien tranh lanh ket thuc den nay” [Piracy in Southeast Asia since the end of Cold War], Tap chi Nghien cuu Dong Nam A, Vol. 219, No. 6.

Acharya, Amitav et al (2006), Studying Non-Traditional Security in Asia: Trends and Issues, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.

An, Baijie (2016), “Fifth lighthouse to shine on South China Sea”, China Daily, available at <https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-07/11/content_26033622.htm>, (accessed 28 September 2020).

ASEAN (2005), Chairman’s Statement of the Twelfth Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Vientiane, available at <https://asean.org/chairman-s-statement-of-the-twelfth-meeting-of-the-asean-regional-forum-arf-vientiane/>, (accessed 15 November 2020)

Bateman, Sam (2005), “Maritime ‘Regime’ Building”, in Joshua Ho et al, The Best of Times, The Worst of Times Maritime Security in the Asia-Pacific, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Boutilier, James (2005), “The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: The Global Maritime Outlook 2004”, in Joshua Ho et al, The Best of Times, The Worst of Times Maritime Security in the Asia-Pacific, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Caballero-Anthony, Mely (2010), “Non-Traditional Security Challenges, Regional Governance, and the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)”, Asia Security Initiative Policy Series, Working Paper No. 7, Singapore: Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Chase, Michael S., Ben Purser (2015), “China’s Airfield Construction at the Fierce Cross Reef in Context: Catch-up or Coercion?”, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, available at < https://amti.csis.org/chinas-airfield-construction-at-fiery-cross-reef-in-context-catch-up-or-coercion/>, (accessed 14 June 2020)

Cheung, William W. L., U. Rashid Sumaila (2015), Boom or Bust: The Future of Fish in the South China Sea, Ocean Recovery Alliance, available at <https://www.oceanrecov.org/news/ocean-recovery-alliance-news/boom-or-bust-the-future-of-fish-in-the-south-china-sea.html> (accessed 28 March 2020).

Herbert-Burn, Rupert et al (2009), Lloyd's MIU Handbook of Maritime Security, London: CRC Press.

Holland, Steve., Nguyen, Mai (2017), “Trump offers to mediate on South China Sea”, Reuters, available at <https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-asia-vietnam-idUSKBN1DC04H> (accessed 10 October 2020).

Hughes, Terry P. et al (2013), “The Wicked Problem of China's Disappearing Coral Reefs”, Conversation Biology, Vol 27, No. 2, pp. 261-269.

Klare, Michael T., Yogesh Chandrani (1998), World Security: Challenges for a New Century, New York: St. Martine’s Press.

Lillehaugen, M. (2018), The ‘Free and Open’ Indo-Pacific: A Call for European Partnership, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, available at <https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/06/22/free-and-open-indo-pacific-call-for-european-partnership-pub-76673> (access 20 March 2020).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC (2015), Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on April 28, 2015, available at <https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1258874.shtml> (access 20 May 2020).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC (2015), Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Remarks on Issues Relating to China's Construction Activities on the Nansha Islands and Reefs, 2015, available at <https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1273370.shtml> (access 20 May 2020).

Ministry of National Defense of the PRC (2016), Defense Ministry’s regular press conference on Mar.31, available at <http://eng.mod.gov.cn/TopNews/2016-03/31/content_4648198.htm> (accessed 1 April 2020).

New Zealand Government (2018), Strategic Defence Policy Statement, available at <http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/strategic-defence-policy-statement-2018.htm> (accessed 3 April 2020).

O’Neill, Daniel C (2018), Dividing ASEAN and Conquering the South China Sea: China’s Financial Power Projection, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Panda, Ankit (2017), “How Much Trade Transits the South China Sea? Not $5.3 Trillion a Year”, The Diplomat, available at (accessed 17 August 2020).

Strait Times (2018), Australia asserts right to SCS passage, available at <https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-asserts-right-to-south-china-sea-passage> (accessed 3 April 2020).

Sukma, Rizal (2010), ASEAN and Non-traditional Security, paper presented at the Fourth International Symposium ‘Security Cooperation and Regional Integration in Asia’, Waseda University, Japan, 3 December 2010.

Terriff, Terry et al (2001), Security Studies Today, Singapore: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.

Tickell, Oliver (2016), “China condemned for massive coral reef destruction”, The Ecologist, available at <https://theecologist.org/2016/jul/12/china-condemned-massive-coral-reef-destruction> (accessed 14 June 2020).

U.S. Embassy and Consulate Vietnam (2019), United States Transfer Six Patrol Boats to Vietnam Coast Guard Region III, available at <https://vn.usembassy.gov/pr20190401-united-states-transfers-six-patrol-boats-to-vietnam-coast-guard-region-iii/>, (accessed 15 March 2021).

conventional oil and gas resources, available at <https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=10651> (accessed 7 June 2020).

Williams, Paul D and McDonald, Matt (2018), Security Studies: An Introduction (3st edn.), London: Routledge.

Wu, Shicun and Zou, Keyuan (2016), Maritime Security in the South China Sea: Regional Implications and International Cooperation, New York: Routledge.

Zhang, Hongzhou (2016), “South China Sea: The Story of the Tanmen Fishermen”, The Diplomat, available at <https://thediplomat.com/2016/01/south-china-sea-the-story-of-the-tanmen-fishermen/> (accessed 3 July 2020).

Published

2021-10-22

How to Cite

Nguyen, X. C., & Hung, N. T. . (2021). Non-traditional Security Complex in the South China Sea: Vietnam’s Perspectives and Policy Implications. Journal Global Policy and Governance, 10(2), 51-72. https://doi.org/10.14666/2194-7759-10-2-004

Issue

Section

Papers