Vietnam's ASEAN Strategic Objectives since the 1986 Doi Moi Reform

Existing literature on Vietnam's ASEAN membership causes not few puzzles. This book endeavors to throw new light on the problem, investigating the dynamics of Vietnam’s ASEAN-based integration policy since the late 1980s to pursue the three mutually reinforcing strategic goals: economic development and industrialization (development goal); addressing China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and the US-led “peaceful evolution” threat to Vietnam’s communist regime (security goal); and building “national standing,” defined in terms of enhancement of Vietnam’s diplomatic standing and political influence, in the regional and global communities. This book also provides an in-depth examination in the major and great powers’ foreign policies as well as the changing Asia-Pacific regional architecture as a ground for Vietnamese leaders' policy making and implementation in each historical period. Thus, the book is useful for students, scholars, policy-makers, and researchers of international relations, especially in the East Asian region.