Sea Dispute between China and Vietnam

           A tension between Vietnam and China over dispute was threatening the peace in the South China Sea. Vietnam’s foreign ministry accused China of tension in the South China Sea on May 31, 2011. Vietnam claimed that Chinese ship had cut a submerged cable towed by the Vietnamese vessel. China denied its charge and blamed southern neighbor for causing the incident. The South China Sea, which passes all commercial sea traffic worldwide and destined for Japan, Korea and China, is great strategic importance to the China but it is also vital to the Vietnam (Nick Ottens). There are two analytical tools that will explain this event for more view of international relationship in detail: International Relationship Theory (Marxism) and Level of Analysis (System Level).

Marxism clearly but inaccurately predicted the death of capitalism as a result of imperialism, major war, socialist revolution, and rise of communism (Nye). Marxism, it attempted to reduce politics to economics and it erred in conceiving of the sate as a simple tool of a particular class (Nye). The Vietnamese economy hugely depended on the South China Sea oil production, which accounts for 30% of its GDP. Vietnamese economy would collapse if they lose its oil assets in that region. In view of China, they always insisted that its economic zone extended far into the South China Sea and claims all islands as its territory. A tension with China will be a good way for Vietnam to direct national grievance away from its domestic mismanagement and vindicate its legitimacy of rule with patriotism and even war (Woo). To Vietnam, the South China Sea is worthy for economic developing.

The system level, it examined the operational dynamics of the social and structural dimensions of society or group. The analysis includes, but was not limited to, the dynamics of power, voice, inclusion or exclusion, and consequent benefit or profit, harm or loss (CREA). The escalating tension had rise anti- Chinese protestors across Vietnam, with hundreds taking to the streets in protests in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. “Vietnam’s live fire drills were something of an anticlimax ... no anti-ship missiles were test fired. And they were conducted so close to land there was no possibility of any Chinese ships being involved," (Thayer). Maritime disputes were a sensitive issue for the Vietnamese government, which tried to make a balance between appeasing a population that was deeply bear hatred of China.

In conclusion, I think the Marxist is the best analytical tool to provide a better explanation of this event. Most Asian economies import the oil needs, mainly from the Middle East. They wish to have a source closer to their home. The South China Sea is the most enormous influence factor for an economic developing to both China and Vietnam. Also, the South China Sea has substantial fish resources too which can support national fisheries cooperation. Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Philippine counterpart Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday agreed to strengthen economic and trade cooperation while minimizing the impact of disputes in the South China Sea (Xuequan).

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-07-20/politics/30031154_1_territorial-disput asean            south-china-sea (WOO)

http://www.crea-inc.org/systemicanalysis.htm (CREA)

http://english.gov.cn/2011-08/31/content_1937679.htm (Xuequan)