The Conflict in the South China Sea and Russian-Vietnamese Relations

Abstract

The article examines main aspects of the conflict in the South China Sea and the impact of this dispute on Russian-Vietnamese relations. The conflict for the Spratly and Paracel islands is considered as one of the most serious security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam might be called one of key participants of the dispute. Vietnam also plays significant role in the Russian policy in the Asia-Pacific. Close Russian-Vietnamese cooperation had been developing yet during the Cold War. Nowadays there are no serious contradictions between Russia and Vietnam. Two countries realize interaction in various spheres. Vietnam is the only Southeast Asia state - strategic partner of Russia. Russia keeps official neutral position in the conflict in the South China Sea, but at the same time it is indirectly involved in this dispute. The position of Russia towards the conflict in the South China Sea is mostly determined by status of partnership with participants of the dispute - China and Vietnam. Russia supports de-facto China in some cases (for instance, concerning critical attitude to «internationalization» of the South China Sea problem). Vietnam, in turn, claims for internationalization of the conflict to strengthen its positions in confrontation with China. At the same time Russia can help Vietnam to improve its conditions in the zone of the conflict by other means - through arms sales and joint energy projects. China is ready to agree with this trend of Russian-Vietnamese relations, because it is interested as in positive cooperation with Russia in general questions, so in Russian favorable neutrality in the South China Sea. So Russia has resources to protect its interests in Vietnam, improve positions of Vietnam in the South China Sea and contribute in stabilization of the conflict.