STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN JAPAN AND VIETNAM: SHARED INTERESTS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA (2014-2020)

Abstract

Territorial dispute is an issue that is a big part of International Relations study. One example of a territorial dispute is the South China Sea dispute, it is one of the most well-known territorial disputes due to its complexity and how difficult it is to resolve. The South China Sea is a region with a strategic geopolitical location that have been in the middle of decades long territorial dispute over claims of sovereignty. This research discusses the importance of South China Sea in the global world as well as the impacts the dispute will have on the nations that depend on the region for its maritime needs. The focus of this research would be the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan and their shared interest in the South China Sea as well as the measures both the two nations did in terms of dealing with China’s assertive claim in the region.