A South China Sea Adiz-Vietnam's Next Challenge
Abstract
When China declared its East China Sea (ECS) Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in November2013, the declaration sparked fears that it would soon implement similar zones over the South China Sea (SCS), further exacerbating tensions in the region. Since Vietnam is projected to be the country most affected by Chinas SCS ADIZ, this thesis focuses on how Vietnams leaders might respond. To do so, this thesis reviews reactions from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan during the 2013 ECS ADIZ crisis to identify a range of possible responses for Vietnam. It then explores how Vietnam has responded to past territorial disputes from Chinaboth land and maritimeto identify similar challenges that an ADIZ might pose. Finally, it analyzes the range of responses within the context of Vietnams current strategies toward China. Research reveals that Vietnam has four major policy options: bilateral diplomacy, multilateralization/arbitration, complete defiance, and a mixture of civilian appeasement and military no recognition. The policy option Vietnam chooses will depend largely on its leadership preferences as well as domestic and geopolitical factors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1026643
Entities
People
- Duc L. Ho
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School