Social Sciences
| Open Access |
DOI: The Strategic Role of the East Sea and Vietnam’s Practice of Establishing and Enforcing Maritime Sovereignty from the Perspective of International Law
Dam Thi Diem Hanh , Faculty of Law, Hanoi Open University Lê Lan Anh , PhD, Faculty of Law, Hanoi Open University Nguyen Thi Hue , MA, Institute of Social Science Information, VASSAbstract
This article analyzes the particularly important geostrategic and geopolitical position of the East Sea (or South China Sea), (known as Biển Đông in Vietnam)—a vital international maritime route connecting global trade, as well as the core living space and security gateway for coastal states, including Vietnam. On this basis, the study scientifically systemizes Vietnam's historical evidence regarding the peaceful and continuous process of establishing and enforcing sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos across historical periods. These historical sources are entirely compatible with the principles of effective occupation under international law and the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). Finally, the article clarifies the current consistent stance of the Party and State of Vietnam in upholding the rule of law, persistently resolving disputes through peaceful means, promoting international cooperation, and leveraging the central role of ASEAN to firmly protect legitimate maritime rights and interests, closely aligned with the orientation of sustainable development for the national marine economy.
Keywords
East Sea, South China Sea, Paracels, Spratlys, maritime sovereignty, UNCLOS 1982
References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dam Thi Diem Hanh, Lê Lan Anh, Nguyen Thi Hue
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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