Defense integration aims to protect the country
15/4/16
Defense integration is an important part of Vietnam’s
international integration process. Therefore, promoting defense integration -
in line with the Resolutions of the 12th National Party
Congress and the 10th Military Party Congress - will contribute
to safeguarding the Fatherland of Vietnam.
Regarding external affairs, the documents of the 12th National
Party Congress emphasize:
“Ensuring the nation’s best interests, on the basis of
international law, equality, and mutual benefit among nations, while pursuing a
foreign relations policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and
development; multilateralizing and diversifying foreign relations; proactively
promoting international integration; being a reliable friend and partner; and
being a responsible member of the international community.
“Regarding cooperating while struggling in foreign relations:
external affairs aims to ensure a stable, peaceful environment and to maximize
international support for national development and for the improvement of
people’s living standards; to safeguard national independence, sovereignty,
unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, Party, State and people; to
promote the country’s status and position in the world; and to contribute to
peace, national independence, democracy and social advancement of nations
across the world.”
Given the Resolution of the 12th National Party
Congress, the Resolution of the 8th Meeting of the 11th Party
Central Committee on the strategy to protect the Fatherland in the new context,
and the Resolution of the 10th Military Party Congress: the
defense external affairs sector has increased cooperation activities and plans
to beef up cooperation with other countries in the future.
Within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting,
Vietnam has proactively proposed a number of major ideas on establishing new
regional security and defense mechanisms over the years, including the ASEAN
Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+).
Defense relations between Vietnam and regional countries have
continuously been strengthened. And strategic trust between Vietnam and nations
of the ASEAN Community and other international partners has been consolidated.
Vietnam also continues its defense integration in an active and profound
manner. Such defense integration activities have contributed much to
strengthening national defense capabilities and promoting the national position
in the international arena.
So far, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 185
out of the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN). At the same time, the
country has forged strategic and comprehensive partnerships with all of the
permanent members of the UN Security Council. As for defense cooperation, Vietnam
has interacted with 80 countries and territories across the world, including
leaders in military science and technology, such as the USA, Russia, the UK,
France and Germany.
While the situation in the region and world remains complex and
unpredictable, defense integration should be emphasized to augment national
capabilities and to enhance our ability to protect the Fatherland.
The main external affairs guidelines adopted by the 12th National
Party Congress require defense integration to focus on the following issues:
First, defense integration should be closely linked with, and
facilitate, sociopolitical, cultural and economic integration, to promote
national development and defense.
This requirement is very important. Sociopolitical, cultural and
economic integration - and defense integration – are closely related. Economic
integration is central to boosting the activities of the other areas.
So defense and security integration should depend on a
foundation of economic, political and sociocultural integration. Meanwhile, the
defense integration process creates a peaceful environment for national
socioeconomic development and facilitates the country’s international
integrity.
But it should be understood that economic integration will make
the economy more dependent on the regional and global economy. Even more so
after the country has signed and joined multilateral trade agreements, such as
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP) as well as bilateral trade agreements with the Eurasia
Economic Union, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the USA and China.
Meanwhile, defense integration will promote understanding and
cooperation among nations in dealing with nontraditional security threats and
in preventing armed conflicts that may lead to war in the region and world. So
defense integration has two goals: Increasing partners while reducing
adversaries; and promoting the country’s position and power. These objectives
create favorable conditions for the country to boost international integration
in the political, sociocultural and economic arenas. Plus, defense and security
integration can help boost national development and defense.
Second, defense integration can help Vietnam’s defense forces
catch up with advanced military forces in the region and world.
Increased defense integration allows the military to participate
in more regional and global activities. This requires the military to improve
defense knowledge, military skills, expertise, professionalism of personnel and
weapons, and equipment to the level of other armies in the region
and world.
Via cooperation activities, the military will gain increased
insight into new generations of weapons and equipment, as well as their
features, and absorb the latest warfare doctrines and military tactics. With
this knowledge, Vietnam can craft a sound strategy on weaponry development to
better safeguard the nation.
Defense integration, particularly international military
cooperation and exchange activities, can also help the military learn best
practices in military organization, military training, war fighting abilities,
and military skills from other armies. So defense integration provides a good
opportunity for the Vietnamese military to achieve international standards for
military development.
Third, it is necessary to implement the commitments of regional
and global cooperation mechanisms for the prevention of nontraditional security
threats – and for UN peacekeeping missions – in order to raise Vietnam’s status
in the international arena.
The defense integration process – and the implementation of the
commitments of ADMM and ADMM+ – have generated a number of new issues for
Vietnam’s national defense. For example, the country has to earmark significant
human and material resources to participate in regional security and defense
events, as well as in UN peacekeeping missions. So the country’s defense force
has to adapt its personnel training program to meet international
standards. Meanwhile, Vietnam must also acquire military assets suitable to
multinational security and defense activities.
In conclusion, the current regional and global context requires
Vietnam to deepen its international integration process. Defense integration,
which aims to preserve a peaceful environment for national development and to
safeguard the Fatherland, is an important part of this process. To promote
defense integration, it is necessary to fulfill the three above requirements
stated in the latest Party documents on foreign affairs.
All comments [ 10 ]
Nowadays, international integration in defense industry is inevitable to bring into play the integrated strength to build and develop Vietnam defense industry so that it can meet the requirements of the mission of constructing and protecting the Fatherland.
To ensure an effective and oriented integration for the industry, it is necessary to grasp all the opportunities, challenges, and be determined to pursue the goals and orientation set out.
For the past years, significant achievements have been gained during the implementation of this policy which helped solve many urgent problems both in the short term and in the long term.
This is a fundamental change in the relationship between Vietnam and its partners in the international market of weapon trading and military technology transferring.
we have gradually integrated, signed and strictly complied with international rules on weapon inspecting, on the basis of ensuring member nations’ interests and respecting international law.
Since Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization, many of its enterprises have enjoyed high growth rate with export sales estimated at tens of millions USD per annum.
Success of international cooperation projects in the field of DI has initially contributed to reaffirming the country’s pledge: Viet Nam is a trustful partner, respectful of its international commitments and responsible for peace keeping operations in the world; at the same time, made certain progress in the quality of researching, designing, and manufacturing ability of the DI.
More effort need to be put into the struggle to remove barriers and embargoes of some countries against Vietnam in military goods transaction and technology (especially high-end) transferring.
Weapon and military technology trading and transfers are governed by many particular documents, including multilateral, bilateral and even unilateral rules of some influential powers.
DI international integration must be closely linked with the orientation of political mission of the industry in the cause of developing and defending the nation, ensuring the combination between defense and economy.
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