China/Vietnam: Vietnam's Maritime Spats with China Stir Domestic Dissent

Sep 5, 2014 | The Straits Times
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Historically, ambiguity has characterised relations between China and Vietnam. Despite China's strong cultural influence, Vietnam has repeatedly resisted the larger power's efforts to dominate it. Since the 1990s, economic relations with China have become important for Vietnam's prosperity.However, since 2010, maritime contentions have resurfaced and intensified. The most recent episode took place in the context of a wider push by China to assert its claims in both the South China and East China Seas.

HISTORICALLY, ambiguity has characterised relations between China and Vietnam. Despite China's strong cultural influence, Vietnam has repeatedly resisted the larger power's efforts to dominate it. Since the 1990s, economic relations with China have become important for Vietnam's prosperity.

However, since 2010, maritime contentions have resurfaced and intensified. The most recent episode took place in the context of a wider push by China to assert its claims in both the South China and East China Seas.