Vietnam released Monday another white paper on national defense, once again affirming that it would not participate in any military alliance.

Colonel General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense at the announcement ceremony of Vietnam's Defense White Paper. Photo: VNExpress

This is included in the “four no's” policy including no military alliance, no affiliation with one country to counteract the other, no foreign military base in the Vietnamese territory to act against other countries, and no force or threatening to use force in international relations.

In addition, “promoting defense ties with other countries to boost its capabilities in sovereignty protection and in settlement of common security challenges” is also highlighted in the white paper.

Local media quoted Colonel General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense as saying Monday [November 25] that Vietnam’s “three no's” defense policy has turned to “four no's” one over the last year.

The announcement attracts many foreign army officers. Photo: Tien Phong

This is the fourth white paper that Vietnam has published so far, the first three were made public in 1998, 2004, and 2009. This year’s white paper is published in both Vietnamese and English and are provided for domestic and foreign agencies, embassies, and military attaches.

The paper featured three main parts namely strategic context and national defense policy; building the all-people national defense; and people’s army, militia and self-defense force.

Vietnam’s 2019 Defense White Paper stated that the country’s defense policy is resolute and persistent in solving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means based on international law and implementing the motto of “defending the country with a clear vision very early and getting ready to fight invasion wars.”

The white paper also reveals spending for defense, which accounted for 2.23% of GDP in 2010, 2.82% in 2011, 2.88% in 2012, 2.51% in 2017, and 2.36% in 2018.

Vietnam's defense spending in 2010-2018. Source: Ministry of National Defense. Chart: Linh Pham