U.S. policy in the East Sea - From the Obama administration to the Trump administration and its implications for Vietnam

Abstract

The East Sea occupies a critical strategic position in the regional security architecture and in major-power competition, particularly in the context of the Indo - Pacific strategy and intensifying U.S - China rivalry. This article analyzes the evolution of U.S. policy toward the East Sea under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, and outlines possible trajectories under a second Trump administration, drawing on qualitative analysis and comparison of official documents and academic studies. The findings indicate that U.S. strategic objectives have remained broadly consistent - maintaining freedom of navigation, constraining China’s influence, and upholding a rules-based order - while approaches and instruments of implementation have varied significantly across administrations. On that basis, the article identifies key opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam in managing its relations with the United States on East Sea issues and proposes several policy implications.