Opinion | Beijing’s South China Sea stance is driving Vietnam into America’s arms

After a short-lived lull during which Beijing seemed to be refraining from mounting aggressive actions against other claimant states in the South China Sea, it has again started flexing its muscles in recent weeks.

Since mid-June, a Chinese coastguard vessel has been harassing Vietnamese ships trying to service the Japanese oil rig Hakuryu-5 in Vanguard Bank, which Vietnam considers part of its continental shelf but China claims is part of the Spratly Islands.

China also dispatched survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 on July 3 to conduct an oil and gas survey in a large area located well within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. It was accompanied by at least three coastguard vessels, prompting Vietnam to send its own coastguard and fisheries surveillance ships to trail the Chinese flotilla. The stand-off is reminiscent of a similar dispute in 2014 that sent the two countries’ relations to their lowest ebb in decades.

On July 19, Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement condemning China’s actions and, more interestingly, called on “all relevant parties and the international community” to contribute to the maintenance of order, peace and security in the South China Sea.

The following day, the United States appeared to respond to Vietnam’s call when the State Department put out a statement expressing concerns about “Chinese coercion on oil and gas activity in the South China Sea” in general and China’s interference with Vietnam’s “long-standing exploration and production activities” in particular.