JAPAN IN IMPLEMENTING ITS BILATERAL DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH VIETNAM IN FACING THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA’S GROWING PRESENCE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA (2014-2020)

Abstract

This research discusses how Japan implements its bilateral defense cooperation with Vietnam from 2014 to 2020 in facing China's growing presence in the South China Sea. This study uses the theory of Neorealism as the basis for the analysis in this study. This study uses qualitative methods where the data collections were done through library research from primary and secondary sources and also an interview with a resource person through an email. This study found that the bilateral defense cooperation formed by the two countries is the result of the shared interests of the two countries. And also, in implementing its bilateral defense cooperation with Vietnam, Japan made high-level visits to Vietnam, held regular defense discussions, visited by its military ships, and provided assistance to Vietnam's maritime affairs to strengthen their defense. The assistance activities provided by Japan to Vietnam are the activities carried out the most in the implementation carried out by Japan in this bilateral defense cooperation. This activity is capacity-building assistance in which Japan provides several used and new patrol boats to Vietnam to protect its defense, provides material on defense through a seminar program created by Japan, and an invitation program that invites Vietnam to see, know, and learn about Japanese defense.