Why shouldn’t we change the policy of “No military alliance”?

 “Not siding with one country against another” is a consistent policy in Vietnam’s “four no’s” defence policy. This is also the target which hostile forces focus their distortion and sabotage on. Thus, along with scientific interpretation, preposterous allegations must be disallowed to safeguard the Party’s ideological foundation in the new situation.

Peace and self-defence are the core of Vietnam’s defence policy. To that end, the Party and the State have advocated the building of a comprehensive, independent, and self-reliant all-people defence posture to safeguard the Fatherland in all situations. In particular, “not siding with one country against another” is a consistent viewpoint. However, hostile forces and some people are not of the same wavelength. They assume that the policy is “self-binding, impractical, and in need of changes”; “it is unlikely to find an ally once the statement was clearly made”; “Vietnam will slip its important bargaining leverage with the U.S and China”. In their words, the policy of not siding with one country against another “does not suit the current era of globalisation and international integration and needs changes”. They have also recommended that the Party and the State should establish a military alliance with a country to cope with another to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, unification, and territorial integrity. So what is the essence of these allegations? The following analysis will illuminate the issues.

Is siding with one country against another the current trend in this era?

The current era presenting the transition period from capitalism to socialism across the globe, initiated with the Russian October Revolution in 1917 is the “era of globalisation and international integration”. In essence, globalisation is a process of intensifying relationships, mutual influence, and interdependence. Starting as a trend, globalisation in recent years has become a reality in the development of human society. In opposition to globalisation is anti-globalisation movement (which aims to prevent the reverse side of globalisation). The struggle between the two groups stems from the disagreement on the interests that each group benefits from globalisation. This struggle aims to redistribute the benefits of each side in the process of globalisation. there was an inevitable link between groups of people with the same benefit, mainly from the economic perspective. It is neither a military alliance among nations or between armies nor a coalition with a country to resist another and vice versa. The coalition (or gathering) of forces is various; even a nation, either minor nations or superpowers, also encounter the struggle between two groups when opting for a path to the country’s development. This struggle dominates the mass and officials of a country. Therefore, that not siding with one country against another “runs contrary to the current era” is a one-sided viewpoint, a misleading interpretation of globalisation and anti-globalisation, and an incapacity for grasping the nature, trend, and the laws of development of human society which is cooperation for mutual development on a regional and global scale.

From a different perspective, the world, currently, is embarking on a new development stage in which “Peace, cooperation, and development are the dominant trend; however, challenges and difficulties remain in the way; strategic competition among major powers and local conflicts jeopardising economic, political environment and international security”. In that context, it is impractical and perilous if Vietnam sides with any country, especially major powers against others.

Not siding with one country against another – Is it  “self-binding, impractical, and in need of changes”?

First and foremost, it is necessary to agree that military alliances are not international defence cooperation. Once participating in an alliance, its member countries belong to a military bloc with specific goals and military measures to scramble for interests and fight common adversaries. The member countries must be under the command and leadership of a country, normally a major power and abide by the alliance’s principles regardless of their inappropriateness with their circumstances. This has established a bind among the countries and resulted in the loss of independence and autonomy on their own issues.

Concerning the performance of independent and autonomous defence policies, Vietnam’s stance is not to join any military alliance but actively take initiative in deepening comprehensive integration into the global economy, politics, culture, society, defence and security. Vietnam has accelerated international integration and defence diplomacy with the motto of “being active, proactive, flexible, and effective” to maintain a peaceful and stable environment, take full advantage of the support from the international community, cement strategic confidence, maintain a peaceful environment and cooperation for mutual development, and consolidate defence-security posture for the cause of building and safeguarding the Fatherland. Vietnam, so far, has established defence and security cooperation with all countries in the region to exchange information, conduct joint border patrol, prevent transnational crime, human trafficking, and drug smuggling, etc. Vietnam is involved in initiatives to step up defence and security cooperation within ASEAN Community, such as defence industry cooperation; making use of resources and military capabilities in humanitarian aid and disaster relief; and adopting feasible measures and mechanisms for strengthening cooperation among ASEAN militaries. In the cooperation framework, every year, Vietnam fully participates in conferences, such as the ASEAN Chief of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM), the ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM), the ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM), the ASEAN air Chiefs Conference (AACC), and the ASEAN Military Intelligence Informal Meeting (AMIIM). Vietnam’s multilateral defence diplomacy has actively contributed to maintaining the goal of national independence and socialism and protecting the national interests in the international arena and region; cementing, maintaining peace and stability, and facilitating the central tasks of developing the country’s economy and preserving national independence, sovereignty, unification, territorial integrity and security to lift the status and prestige of Vietnam and the VPA.

Regarding international relations, Vietnam is currently a member of the Non-Aligned Movement; therefore, the policy of not siding with one country against another suit the goals and principles of this international organisation. Having established in 1961, the Non-Aligned Movement currently has 120 member countries and 17 observers and is the world’s second-largest organisation after the U.N. The Non-Aligned Movement consists of developing countries whose main goal is to accelerate the interests of the countries, contribute to maintaining peace and national independence, peacefully coexist with countries, and join hands to build a better and more equal world. Since its official participation in the Movement in 1976, Vietnam has always been an active member with multiple contributions to the goal of peace, national independence, democracy, social progress, and development. In recent years, Vietnam has always regarded its participation in the Movement as a consistent policy, a part of the independence, autonomous, and peaceful foreign policy which promotes friendship, cooperation, development, and multilaeralisation in the region and world. Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. Vietnam has always maintained the principles of the Movement and strengthened solidarity to strive for the noble goals of the Movement, especially the principle of respecting sovereignty, settling disputes by peaceful measures, and saying no to internal intervention and violence.

Therefore, in peacetime, not siding with one country against another is not “self-binding”. On the contrary, it can untie the knots in our thoughts and actions so that we can independently and creatively think and act without being dominated and imposed by external factors. At the same time, it does not lead to latent risks, especially of the policy on safeguarding the Fatherland’s sovereignty over the sea and islands but helps protect the national sovereignty and interests. There is no reason to change such a proper and effective policy.

Vietnam is “difficult to find allies” and “likely to slip important bargaining leverage with major powers” without siding with one country against another?

If Vietnam’s stance were to side with one country against another, we would be obliged to “take sides”, which inevitably leads to dangerous situations. Minor countries will be disillusioned with their right to “bargain” with major countries. In fact, the world situation in recent years especially the development of current military conflicts has clearly shown this. It is obvious that the price to pay is extremely high. The destiny of the country, the future of the nation, and the lives of the people are never the “card” in the political gamble of other countries! “Red and black” political thinking is not in the pursuit of Vietnam. Performing the principle of “not siding with one country against another” is of utmost significance in the current context. If Vietnam allied with a country and prioritised military measures to settle disputes, it is unlikely to be supported by other countries.

On May 11^th, 2022, at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Vietnam’s Prime Minister -  Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that: “In a world full of upheavals, strategic competitions, and options, Vietnam does not take side but opts for fairness, justice, and righteousness in accordance with the international law, the UN’s Charter”.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has repeatedly stressed the school of "bamboo diplomacy", which harmoniously combines steadfast roots, solid stems, and flexible branches. This will give us adequate intelligence and courage to handle all challenges for the cause of national independence, the freedom, and happiness of the People. In relations with other countries, Vietnam’s stance is “Promoting and deepening bilateral cooperation with partners, especially strategic, comprehensive partners and other important partners” for the interests of the people, for peace and development of the region and the world.

Thus, it can be seen that the foreign policy of the Party and the State of Vietnam is very clear and consistent with the general trend of the world. Hostile forces’ allegations that aim to sabotage the independence and autonomous foreign policies and defence policies of the Party and the State must be disallowed.

Vietnam is always a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community in striving for peace, cooperation, and development. And this achievement continues to highlight “foreign affairs as the spotlight in the overall achievements of the country", contributing to facilitating the construction and protection of the Fatherland and lifting Vietnam’s position in the international arena.