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South China Sea
This Week in AsiaPolitics

As US pledges help in South China Sea, Vietnam wary of antagonising Beijing

  • A recent US agreement with Vietnam to assist its fishing vessels against ‘illegal intimidation’ is unlikely to extend to military support at sea
  • While Vietnam opposes China’s moves in the waterway and may even take legal action, it has been cautious in its response to the US offer to help

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A Vietnamese coastguard crewman looks out to sea as Chinese vessels are seen in the distance. The US has promised to assist Vietnam fend off illegal intrusion, but Hanoi remains cautious. Photo: Reuters
Chris HumphreyandBac Pham
Washington toughened its stance against Beijing’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea last week by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vietnam, pledging support for its fishermen against “illegal intimidation”.
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While US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J Kritenbrink did not mention China in his comments at the signing ceremony with the Directorate of Fisheries, analysts said he was clearly referring to Beijing.
Vietnam is one of four Southeast Asian countries with competing claims against Beijing in the energy and resource-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which about US$3 trillion worth of trade passes every year. China claims almost all of the waterway on the basis of its nine-dash line map.

In April, a Vietnamese fishing boat sank after it collided with a Chinese coastguard vessel, with each side claiming the other was at fault. Subsequently, fishing communities in Vietnam and the Philippines protested against China’s unilateral fishing ban in the waterway, known as the East Sea in Vietnam. China instituted the seasonal ban in 1999, claiming it would help sustain fishing resources in one of the world’s biggest fishing grounds.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks during a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to mediate their dispute over the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks during a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to mediate their dispute over the South China Sea. Photo: AFP
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Under the MOU, the US will seek to strengthen Vietnam’s fisheries management, law enforcement capabilities and surveillance systems by providing technical assistance and sharing information. It will also increase cooperation between Hanoi, Washington and international law enforcement agencies to combat illegal fishing and intimidation.

“The United States has a great deal of experience in managing fisheries and enforcing regulations, which we are more than happy to share,” Kritenbrink said. “We look forward to working together with Vietnam to strengthen the sustainability of its fisheries and support its fishers against illegal intimidation.”

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