2018/67, 25 May 2018
Ever since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, and implemented a series of policies designed to reduce friction with Beijing in the Spratly Islands in return for Chinese investment, Vietnam has become the frontline state among the Southeast Asian claimants in the South China Sea. It is a lonely position to be in, and over the past several months Beijing has ramped up the pressure on Hanoi, apparently in an attempt to coerce Vietnam into compromising its maritime claims in favour of China’s interests.
“Vietnam under Increasing Pressure from China in the South China Sea” by Ian Storey