Vietnam’s securitization of the 2014 oilrig crisis and its pursuit of political legitimacy

Abstract The 2014 oilrig crisis marks a turning point in Vietnam’s policy towards China in the South China Sea. Applying securitization theory from the Copenhagen School, this article argues that Vietnam publicly regarded the incident as a security threat and adopted exceptional measures to protect its national sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity. However, this securitization practice still stayed within Vietnam’s cooperation and struggle policy towards China. Behind its securitization of the 2014 oilrig standoff, Vietnam aimed to strengthen both internal and external legitimacy amid growing threats posed by its colossal neighbour.