Vietnam’s Domestic Politics and South China Sea Policy

Since May 2014, China-Vietnam relations had plummeted due to conflicts in the South China Sea. The two sides eventually managed to repair relations via both governmental and party channels. Vietnam’s South China Sea policy was a conglomeration of political calculations, energy pursuits and legal pragmatism. However, China still holds great sway over Vietnam’s future South China Sea policies due to economic concerns and the Vietnam Communist Party’s aspiration to maintain a tight grip on power.