Vietnam has made a series of defense and security strategies to ensure its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity over the past years.

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Assembly's meeting on March 24. Photo: VGP

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong made the statement at a session by the National Assembly (NA) on March 24.

There have been important strategies adopted over the years, namely those in National Defense, the Vietnam’s Army, and Border Protection, Trong said at the 11th session of the NA’s 14th tenure.

“Currently, we are also building a number of strategies that are extremely important, ensuring that the country would not be passive or in unexpected situation. In any case, we must not be unpredictable about defense and security in all directions regardless of the east, southwest, and north, and to big or small countries,” Trong said at the last sitting of the parliament in the 2016-2021 term.

During the past five-year term, Trong also works as head of Defense and Security Council, and Armed Forces.

Vietnam strengthens its maritime capacity over the past years. Photo: Hoang Truong/Baoquocte

Regarding the defense strategies over the past five years, Vietnam released the 2019 Defense White Paper, asserting that the country would “promote defense ties with other countries to boost its capabilities in sovereignty protection and in settlement of common security challenges.”

It stated the country’s policy with the motto of “defending the country with a clear vision very early and getting ready to fight invasion wars.”

The 2019 White Paper also outlines a commitment to “upgrade weaponry and equipment” and continue to build defense and diplomacy ties with the international community.

Notably, developing appropriate defense and military relations with other countries is Vietnam’s new approach mentioned in the White Paper.

Its “four-no's and one-depend” policy means no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations; but, “depending on circumstances and specific conditions, Vietnam will consider developing necessary, appropriate defense and military relations with other countries.”