Publication

This paper provides an overview of the Paracel Islands dispute between Vietnam and China. In particular, the author explains 1) the economic and security importance of the region; 2) the conflicting claims of the parties involved; and 3) the use of customary law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in establishing claims to the Paracel Islands and surrounding waters. It also looks at US interests and involvement in the region and provides recommendations on how the US could assist international efforts to craft a solution to the dispute.