TTLV: Adjusting the foreign policies of the Philippines and Myanmar in the face of the US "rebalancing" strategy (2009 - 2015)

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Tran Quoc Tuan              

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: May 19, 1983

4. Place of birth: Hoa Tien - Hung Ha - Thai Binh

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 3215/2014/QD/XHNV-SDH dated December 31, 2014 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in training process: None

7. Thesis topic name:“Adjusting the foreign policies of the Philippines and Myanmar in the face of the US “rebalancing” strategy (2009 – 2015)”

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Scientific instructor:Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thu My- Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

10. Summary of thesis results:

The thesis mentioned that from 2009 to now, the US has been actively implementing the strategy.“rebalance”to shift its strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region to increase its influence and deter potential rivals to maintain its regional and world leadership role, which is being challenged. In the US's "rebalancing" strategy, Southeast Asia plays a very important role. This is the region located in the arc of encirclement of China stretching from Japan to the South Pacific. Hillary Clinton considers ASEAN as "the fulcrum for the structure that is forming in the region". Due to that importance, this region has become a focus in the US's "rebalancing" policy since 2009. In the process of implementing this policy, the US has sought to regain its shrinking influence in Thailand and the Philippines, traditional US allies in the region, but which are strongly influenced by China, while strengthening relations with countries considered close to China such as Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

US-ASEAN relations were also strongly promoted and brought to a new level with the official establishment of the US-ASEAN Summit process at the ASEAN Summit held in Brunei in November 2013.

The implementation of the US “rebalancing” strategy in Southeast Asia has had a strong impact on the political situation in the region. Other major countries, especially China, have had to adjust their policies towards ASEAN and its key member countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.). Japan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is also seeking to increase its presence in Southeast Asia.

These changes in the political and security environment in Southeast Asia have been creating new opportunities and challenges for peace, security and development of the region in general and each Southeast Asian country in particular.

To adapt to that environment, exploit new development opportunities and overcome challenges from it, like other ASEAN member countries, in recent years, the Philippines and Myanmar have made policy adjustments to adapt to the changing situation in the region, especially foreign policy. The process of adjusting and implementing foreign policies of these two countries has impacted their security and development in particular, and Southeast Asia in general.

As a Southeast Asian country, Vietnam has been taking appropriate steps in its foreign policy to best exploit development opportunities and limit negative impacts from the implementation of the US “rebalancing” policy in Southeast Asia. The implementation of that policy has brought about initial positive results and contributed to protecting Vietnam’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development.

11. Practical application:

The thesis can be used as reference material for research and teaching on international relations.

12. Further research directions

13. Published works related to the thesis

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Tran Quoc Tuan 2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: May 19, 1983 4. Place of birth: Thai Binh

5. Admission decision number: 3215/2014/QD/XHNV-SĐ dated December 31, 2014, by the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNU)

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: “Adjust the foreign policy of the Philippines and Myanmar before strategic rebalancing US”

8. Major: International relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Supervisor: Associate Prof, Dr. Nguyen Thu My, Southeast Asian Studies

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

This thesis addresses since 2009, the United States has been more active in undertaking the “rebalancing” to Asia policy to increase its influence in the region as well as to “contain” its potential competitors in order to maintain and consolidate its leadership of the region and the world. The Southeast Asian region is considered as an important factor of the US's “rebalance” to Asia. This region is in the chain (ranging from Japan to the southern Pacific ocean) built by the US to circle China. Hilary Clinton stated that ASEAN was a central point of the emerging structure in the region. Therefore, the ASEAN region has become the focus of the US's “rebalance” to Asia. formation, the US has been more actively seeking not only to restore its influence over the traditional alies, including Thailand and the Philippines, who are getting closer to China, but also to foster its relations with China's close friends, including Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Viet Nam.

The US's relationship with ASEAN has also been strengthened and upgraded to the higher level. One significant illustration of the new developments of the US – ASEAN relationship is the birth of the US – ASEAN Summit mechanism during the ASEAN Summit in Brunei in November 2013.

The political picture in the Southeast Asia region has been deeply impacted by the US's “rebalance” to Asia. One of its implications is that the great powers, notably China, undertook certain adjustments in their diplomacy approach to ASEAN as well as its members, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam. Japan under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been also seking to increase its presence in the region.

Such political and security developments in the Southeast Asian region bring both opportunities and challenges to the whole region and each nation member in term of maintaining and promoting the peace, security and development environment.

Like other ASEAN members, in the recent years, the Philippines and Myanmar have chosen to undertake certain adjustments in their foreign policy in response to the developments in the region. Consequently, these adjustments have impacted on the security and development of the two nations and the whole region.

In this context, Vietnam has taken some diplomatic responses to maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative ones of the US's “rebalance” to Asia. As a result, Vietnam has gained certain achievements in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintaining its security and promoting its development.

11. Practical applicability:

The thesis could be used for reference for research, teaching on international relations.

12. Further research directions

13. Thesis-related publications: