The South China Sea is critical to Vietnam’s survival. Nearly 80 percent of the population lives within 200 kilometers of the coast, and millions rely on the sea for food and livelihoods. Protecting territorial waters and maritime zones is central to national security and economic stability.
Vanguard Bank, a submerged feature on the western edge of the Spratlys, symbolizes this high-stakes struggle. Believed to hold around $3 trillion USD in oil reserves, it lies just 250 kilometers off Vietnam’s coast and within the waters it owns.
The History of Tensions
Vietnam has long clashed with China over the Spratly and Paracel Islands, with major confrontations in 1974 and 1988 ending in Vietnam’s defeat. The asymmetry in military power has shaped Hanoi’s cautious but firm approach.
In 2022, responding to Beijing’s assertive expansion and land reclamation campaign from 2013 to 2018, Vietnam launched a major effort to expand control
...
Loading comments...