Under the Eagle’s Wings, Counterbalancing the Dragon: Threat Perceptions to Strategic Alignments of Japan and Vietnam
Keywords:
alliance formation, common threat perception, mistrust, strategic alignment, strategic vulnerabilityAbstract
This article investigates the influence of threat perception on historical legacies and economic ties in the strategic alignment of Japan and Vietnam from 2010 to 2020. Documentary research and qualitative comparative analysis are used to create a theoretical explanation. Results are that Japan and Vietnam share a common threat perception, driven by mistrust based on historical legacies and strategic vulnerability from economic ties. Thus, Japan and Vietnam have pursued strategic alignment with the United States by establishing internal and external institutions and concurrently forming alliances to counterbalance China, seen as a key threat by Japan and Vietnam.
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