TTLV: Cooperation among ASEAN countries on the South China Sea issue (2002 - 2017)

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Dang Tuyen2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: August 5, 1988

4. Place of birth: Thai Binh

5. Decision No. 2769/QD-XHNV dated October 27, 2017, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: No changes

7. Thesis title:Cooperation among ASEAN countries on the South China Sea issue (2002 - 2017)

8. Major:International RelationsCode:60 31 02 06

9. Scientific supervisor: Dr. Nguyen Thanh Minh - Vietnam Coast Guard Command.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis addresses the issue of cooperation among ASEAN countries on the South China Sea issue from 2002 to 2017 and updates relevant information up to 2019. Over more than 50 years of formation and development, amidst the ups and downs of the South China Sea situation, and with increasingly complex and unpredictable trends, ASEAN has become more comprehensively aware of the complex nature of the South China Sea issue. It has strived to build institutions as a legal foundation to promote cooperation in many areas concerning the South China Sea among ASEAN countries, such as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and the Guidelines for the Implementation of the DOC… During the period from 2002 to 2017, areas of cooperation that received attention included: cooperation in resolving disputes over sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea; cooperation on maritime delimitation; cooperation in joint exploitation; and cooperation in patrols, exercises, and defense. Combating maritime crime and cooperating in protecting marine resources and the environment. Cooperation among ASEAN countries in these areas has achieved some positive results, contributing to maintaining a peaceful, stable, secure, safe, and free environment for navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

However, the cooperation process during this period, as well as in the future, will be subject to multifaceted impacts from factors such as the global and regional situation, the situation regarding sovereignty disputes, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the South China Sea, the ASEAN Community building process, the process of building the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), the involvement of major external powers, and the situation related to non-traditional security issues in the South China Sea. Therefore, the prospects for cooperation among ASEAN countries on the South China Sea issue in the future will still face many difficulties and challenges, and significant progress is unlikely; however, it can be hoped that the cooperative efforts of all parties will contribute to promoting trust, preventing conflict, and maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, serving the socio-economic development of countries in the region as well as countries with interests in the South China Sea.

Based on assessments of the current situation and prospects for cooperation, the thesis offers recommendations for Vietnam in both specific areas of cooperation and strategic, ongoing recommendations related to the South China Sea issue, contributing to the protection of Vietnam's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and national interests and security.

11. Practical applications: This thesis can be used as a reference for research and teaching on international relations.

12. Future research directions: Based on this research, further research could be conducted on a more comprehensive overview of cooperation among ASEAN countries on the South China Sea issue since ASEAN's establishment in 1967, or on cooperation between ASEAN and China on the South China Sea issue since ASEAN and China established a partnership.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

- Nguyen Dang Tuyen (2019), “International cooperation for marine economic development”,Proceedings of the National Workshop “Maritime Economy: Potential and Policy Gaps”, Ministry of Finance.

- Nguyen Minh An (2017), “Singapore’s attitude on the South China Sea issue”,Foreign Events and People Magazine (282), pp. 30-35.

- Thanh Tuyen (2017), “Some outstanding results of the 2017 Shangri-La Dialogue”,Foreign Events and People Magazine (282), pp. 54-59.

- Minh An (2016), “28th-29th ASEAN Summit and related meetings”,Foreign Events and Personalities Magazinenumber 273), pp. 45-51.

1. Full name: Nguyen Dang Tuyen. 2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: August 5, 1988 4. Place of birth: Thai Binh

5. Admission decision number: 2769/QD-XHNV Dated Oct 27^th2017 by Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: No changes

7. Official thesis title: Cooperation among ASEAN members on East Sea (2002 - 2017)

8. Major: International Relations 9. Code:60 31 02 06

10. Supervisors: Dr. Nguyen Thanh Minh - Vietnam Coast Guard

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis has mentioned cooperation among ASEAN members on East Sea issue in the period of 2002 - 2017 and updated information related to this issue until 2019. For more than 50 years of establishment and development, in the face of the ups and downs of the East Sea situation, ASEAN has been increasingly aware of the complexity of the East Sea issue in a comprehensive way, and endeavored to create institutions as a legal basis to promote cooperation in many areas in the East Sea issue among ASEAN members, such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), Guidelines for the Implementation of the DOC... In the period from 2002 to 2017, the outstanding fields of cooperation are included: cooperation in resolving disputes over sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction rights in the East Sea; cooperation in maritime delimitation; cooperation in joint exploitation; cooperation in patrol, drill and crime prevention at sea; cooperation in protecting natural resources and marine environment. Cooperation among ASEAN members in these fields has achieved a variety of positive results, contributing to maintaining the environment of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.

However, the process of cooperation in this period as well as the coming time has been affected by many factors, namely the global and regional situation, the situation of disputes over sovereignty, sovereignty rights, jurisdiction rights in the East Sea, the process of building the ASEAN Community, the process of developing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), the engagement activities of countries outside as well as the situation related to non-traditional security issues in the East Sea. Therefore, the prospect of cooperation among ASEAN members in the East Sea issue in the coming time will cope with many challenges that prevent ASEAN from reaching outstanding and practical achievements. In spite of that, the cooperative efforts of the countries will contribute to promoting trust and preventing conflicts to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, serving the socio-economic development of the countries in the region as well as the countries with interests in the East Sea.

Based on the comments and assessments on the status and prospects of cooperation, the thesis has made recommendations for Vietnam in both specific areas of cooperation as well as strategic recommendations regarding the East Sea issue, contributing to the protection of Vietnam's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, interests and national security.

12. Practical applicability, if any: The thesis can be used as a reference for research and teaching on international relations.

13. Further research directions, if any: Based on this research, it is possible to continue a more comprehensive study of the situation of cooperation among ASEAN members in the East Sea issue since ASEAN was established in 1967 or a study of the situation of cooperation between ASEAN with China in the East Sea issue since ASEAN and China established partnerships.

14. Thesis-related publications:

- Nguyen Dang Tuyen (2019), “International cooperation for marine economic development”,Proceedings of the National Workshop “Marine economy: Potentials and policy gaps”Finance Ministry.

- Nguyen Minh An (2017), “Singapore's attitude in the East Sea issue”,Journal of Foreign Characters and Events(vol282),Pages 30-35.

- Thanh Tuyen (2017), “Some outstanding results of the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2017”,Journal of Foreign Characters and Events(volume 282), pages 54-59.

- Minh An (2016), “The 28^thand 29^thASEAN summits and related summits”,Journal of Foreign Characters and Events(volume 273))Pages 45-51.