PhD candidate Le Trung Duong successfully defends Doctoral Dissertation at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

On August 15, 2025, at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, PhD candidate Le Trung Duong successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at the Academy level in the field of International Relations, code 9.31.02.06, with the topic “U.S.–China Competition in Maritime Power in the Asia–Pacific Region from 2012 to the Present,” under the scientific supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đang Cam Tu.

The Committee highly appreciated the scientific and practical contributions of the dissertation. This is a systematic research work from the perspective of a Vietnamese scholar on U.S.–China competition in maritime power in the Asia–Pacific region from 2012 to the present.

Although many academic works in both the world and Vietnam have examined maritime power and U.S.–China relations, comprehensive and systematic research on maritime power competition as a component of the broader U.S.–China rivalry remains limited. While there is abundant literature on major-power competition between the United States and China, few studies approach this rivalry specifically from the perspective of maritime power. In particular, a thorough and in-depth study of the struggle for maritime command in the Asia–Pacific region has not received sufficient attention. In Vietnam, this dissertation may be considered the first systematic study on this issue.

The dissertation provides a systematic overview of fundamental issues regarding maritime power and U.S.–China maritime power competition in the Asia–Pacific, including: key concepts; theoretical and practical foundations; the current state of competition across specific dimensions of maritime power; and the impacts of U.S.–China maritime competition on relevant countries from 2012 to the present.

The dissertation analyzes the components and dimensions of maritime power, demonstrating that competition in maritime power is not merely a confrontation of naval strength, but also a conflict of strategic interests—an interaction and collision between two competing power-order models centered on the two great powers. This competition is expected to generate long-term impacts on the future of the Asia–Pacific regional structure.

Based on research findings, the dissertation evaluates and forecasts the trajectory of U.S.–China maritime power competition through 2030. From this, it proposes several policy recommendations for Vietnam to safeguard national interests amid pressure from major powers.

The dissertation can be used as reference material in teaching and researching topics related to political theory, international relations theory, multilateral diplomacy, international political relations, and the modern international system. To a certain extent, the research findings can also serve as a useful reference for policymakers and practitioners in multilateral diplomacy, maritime diplomacy, as well as defense and security policy, thereby enhancing Vietnam’s strategic autonomy in protecting national sovereignty and interests in the future.

The defense ceremony took place in a serious academic atmosphere and in full compliance with doctoral training regulations. The candidate presented the main research results of the dissertation and answered the Committee’s questions effectively. The Committee concluded that PhD Candidate Le Trung Duong fully deserves to be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Relations.

Readers who are interested may access the full text of the dissertation at the Library of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the National Library of Vietnam.