TTLV: U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea from 2015 to 2020

1. Student's full name: Truong Thi Anh Tuyet 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 8, 1985

4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa City

5. Decision on student admission No. 3617/2018/QD-XHNV dated December 4, 2018, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis Title: U.S. Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea from 2015 to 2020

8. Major:International Relations; Code: 8310601.01

9. Scientific supervisor: Dr. Tran Bach Hieu - Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis clarifies the basis for the US deployment of freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Specifically: It outlines the foundations of international customs and international law that guide US presidents in implementing freedom of navigation operations; it identifies internal and external factors influencing policy formulation, implementation, and results. The thesis also clearly outlines the strategic objectives, basic content of the freedom of navigation policy, and implementation measures of the US in the South China Sea.

This thesis provides a relatively comprehensive assessment of the US's freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea from 2015 to 2020, outlining the context, objectives, specific implementation activities, and results in each period, specifically under President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. Furthermore, the thesis summarizes the impact and reactions of several relevant countries within and outside the region; clarifies the impact of US freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea on the region and the issue of sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea; and offers some forecasts and policy recommendations for Vietnam in the future.

This thesis contributes to clarifying the reality of major power relations in the region and internationally, especially the trend of strategic competition between the United States and China, clearly demonstrated through US on-the-ground involvement in the region and China's response, as well as China's increased activities aimed at controlling the entire South China Sea, despite increasing opposition from the US and the international community. At the same time, the thesis clarifies the policies, viewpoints, and responses of the countries involved to US on-the-ground involvement in the South China Sea, China's ambitions and behavior, and how these countries manage their relations with the US and China. Overall, due to its close connection with the South China Sea dispute, the US's freedom of navigation operations in the region are linked to its strategy for the Asia-Pacific region and its strategic competition with China.

11. Practical applications: Vietnamese research institutions and universities can refer to the content of this thesis to gain a broader perspective on the US's freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, their impact on the region, and Vietnam.

12. Future research directions: I will continue to conduct in-depth research on the US's freedom of navigation operations in other seas around the world and propose countermeasures for Vietnam.

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Truong Thi Anh Tuyet 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 8, 1985 4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa city

5. Admission decision number: 3617/2018/QD-XHNV Dated: December 4, 2018

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: U.S.'s freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea from the year of 2015 to the year of 2020

8. Major: International relations 9. Code:8310601.01

10. Supervisors: Dr. Tran Bach Hieu - University of Social Sciences and Humanities -Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis points out the bases of the U.S.'s freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) in the South China Sea, both in terms of theory and practice. In details, it summarizes the matters of international practices and laws that encourage the US Presidents to order practicing FONOP in the sea; clarifies internal and external factors that influence the policy, implementation process and results of the US FONOP. It also makes a rather clear picture about the US strategic goals and FONOP's main activities, as well as U.S's implementation measures in the South China Sea.

The disssetation brings about rather comprehensive assessments on the US FONOP's implementation process in the South China Sea in the period from the year of 2015 to the year of 2020, which points out the context, targets, concrete activities and results in each period of time, including the time under President Barack Obama administration and under President Donald Trump. Besides, it generalizes effects on internal and external regional relevant countries and their reactions. It also contains assessments about US FONOP's implications to the region and sovereignty conflict matter in the South China Sea, giving out some guess about the future and recommendations for Vietnam in the coming time.

The thesis contributes to clarify the situation of great powers relations in the region and as well as in the international forum, notably the strategic competition between China and the US, reflected by the US's intervention activities and China's reactions, and China's increasing aiming activities at controlling over the entire South China Sea region, regardless of anti movements by the US and international community. Simultaneously, the dessert makes rather clear picture of relevant countries' approachment to the US intervention activities in the South China Sea, China's ambitions and its illegal manners to doctrine the South China Sea issues, as well as the ways that releavant countries manage relations with both great powers inluding the US and China. Generally, due to its close relationship with the sovereignty conflict matter in the South China Sea, US FONOP in the region has joint together with its Asia Pacific's strategy and strategic competition with China.

12. Practical applicability: Vietnam' research institutes and universities can take references on the thesis's content, having one small viewing on the US FONOP in the South China Sea and its implications to Vietnam.

13. Further research directions: I will continue to make one more research on US FONOP in the world seas and recommend policies for Vietnam.

14. Thesis-related publications: No