Vietnam

Key Issues

In April 2014, the Vietnamese government established the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance force to enforce fishing laws governing the South China Sea, in part in response to the heightened tensions over the disputed waters. In March 2013, a Vietnamese fishing boat was chased and fired at by a Chinese vessel. With a marine economy contributing to 49% of Vietnam’s GDP at the time, safeguarding shipping, aquaculture, and fisheries is critical to the health of the Vietnamese economy. (https://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2014/04/18/as-beijing-asserts-hanoi-reacts/)

Relevant History

In 1974, the US withdrew its troops from the Paracel Islands (Hoang Sa), after which the Chinese took them over following a brief naval battle between China and Vietnam. (https://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2014/04/18/as-beijing-asserts-hanoi-reacts/)

Related Blog Entries

References

Sands, Gary. “As Beijing asserts, Hanoi reacts,” April 18, 2014, Foreign Policy Association. (https://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2014/04/18/as-beijing-asserts-hanoi-reacts/)