Abstract
This study deals with the management of the border disputes between China and Vietnam and its impact on regional stability. The study takes at its starting point the fact that China and Vietnam signed a Land Border Treaty on 30 December 1999. Following a background section which traces the importance of the borders disputes, during the period 1975-1991, the focus of attention is on developments since the normalisation of bilateral relations in late 1991. The evolution has displayed an overall constructive approach to the border disputes with continuous bilateral talks at different levels. However, there have been periods of tension related to the border disputes particularly those in the South China Sea. It is argued that periods of re-occurring tensions have negative implications not only on bilateral relations but, also, on regional stability. It is, therefore, of importance that both sides refrain from actions which might alter the status quo and cause tension. To achieve such a situation it is suggested that China and Vietnam could agree on a “code of conduct”, possibly along the lines of those agreed upon by the Philippines and China and the Philippines and Vietnam, respectively. Taking into consideration the tension between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea in recent years it is argued that “code of conducts” are no guarantees that actions and incidents will not cause tension. This is of relevance in the context of the Sino-Vietnamese attempts to manage their maritime disputes as well as for ASEAN and China in their discussions relating to a possible “code of conduct” for the South China Sea.
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