Vietnam Petroleum Industry: Positioned for Growth but Ripe for Regional Complications.

摘要

A growing economy and increased industrialization have significantly increased Vietnam's energy requirements and its demand for petroleum products. With a rising need for oil and a shrinking domestic supply, Vietnam is faced with a growing reliance on foreign energy sources. To combat this dependence, Vietnam is actively pursuing exploration and expansion efforts to increase their domestic petroleum production. These efforts are not only technologically challenging and expensive, they are also being conducted with a wide array of foreign partners and in disputed territorial waters. Making matters even more complex, neighboring China is not only a historic adversary and the primary claimant in many territorial disputes, it is also the world's biggest consumer of energy. This paper analyzes the expansion efforts of Vietnam's state-owned petroleum company, PetroVietnam, and discusses the potential ramifications of these efforts to regional security. In addition, the paper addresses implications to strategic interests of the United States and recommends possible engagement areas that will facilitate a continued U.S. presence in the region.