Upholding sovereignty over seas, islands and sacred territorial borders in a complex context

Proactively protecting sovereignty over seas, islands, and territorial borders from early on and from afar is the consistent and continuous ideology of the Party, the strategic orientation, and the top important task of the cause of defending the Fatherland in the new period.

Vietnam's seas and islands are a sacred part of the Fatherland. Photo: Parade ceremony during the flag-raising ceremony in Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Inheriting from the historical lessons of our ancestors on the struggle to build and defend the country throughout history, protecting the Fatherland early and from afar in the context of the complicated developments in the security and political situation in the region and the world is an urgent requirement today.

Complex situation of the world and region

In the 21st century, the inherent values ​​of the sea and ocean for humans are increasingly evident, and land-based fuel resources are increasingly depleted due to large scale and speed of exploitation. In that context, natural resources in the sea and ocean, especially renewable resources, are extremely abundant and rich. Most countries have policies towards the sea and ocean for development.

However, humanity is currently witnessing rapid and unpredictable developments in the political security situation, geostrategic competition, the increasing impact of traditional and non-traditional security; the increasing disputes over sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, national and ethnic interests in a number of sea and island areas of the world and the region.

The security and political situation in Asia, especially the East Sea, has many complicated developments. Disputes over sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national jurisdiction; piracy, armed robbery against ships, smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal fishing ground violations continue to have unpredictable developments in the East Sea, including Vietnam's island waters.

The struggle to protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and national interests at sea for most coastal countries is an inevitable and urgent requirement today. The East Sea is one of the world's hot spots, because this is a sea with an extremely important geostrategic position, most major countries in the world want to have strategic interests in this area.

This is also the sea area where the US and China are increasing strategic competition and strategic control of each other, stemming from the extremely important strategic position of the East Sea, which contains rich and diverse resources, especially oil and gas, ice, position... On the other hand, countries in the East Sea region have different views on sovereignty, sovereign rights, national jurisdiction, sovereignty disputes, and sovereign rights are still taking place, sometimes becoming tense.

Vietnam has a very significant potential for marine resources and is very important for the country's economic development as well as in the field of national defense and security, especially in the current context of international integration. Vietnam's sea and island areas are considered to be one of the sea areas with a high level of biodiversity.

Regarding the East Sea region, Vietnam's sea area contains many important resources, such as oil and gas, with a large sea area stretching across 16 parallels, having an important geostrategic, geoeconomic, political, defense and security position in the region and the world.

The basic advantages of location and marine potential in the current context of international integration require Vietnam to diversify and multilateralize international cooperation policies on the sea to take advantage of external resources, promote internal resources, and contribute to promoting the rapid and sustainable development of marine economic sectors.

Proactively protecting the sovereignty of seas, islands, and territorial borders from early on and from afar is the consistent and continuous ideology of the Party, the strategic orientation, and the most important task of the cause of defending the Fatherland in the new period. From the 6th to the 11th National Party Congress, documents and resolutions have always determined that it is necessary to heighten vigilance, proactively prevent and defeat the sabotage plots of hostile forces, and not be caught off guard.

At the 12th Party Congress, for the first time, our Party determined: Having a plan to prevent the risks of war and conflict early and from afar; proactively preventing, detecting early and eliminating unfavorable factors, especially internal factors that can cause sudden changes. Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated April 16, 2018 of the Politburo, 12th tenure on Vietnam's national defense strategy, for the first time the phrase "protecting the Fatherland early and from afar, when the country is not yet in danger" was officially used.

At the 13th National Congress, our Party continued to affirm: Having policies to prevent the risks of war and conflict early and from afar. Strive to prevent conflicts and wars and resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law and practice.

Sacred flag-raising ceremony on Truong Sa island. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Resolutely and persistently fight to maintain the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and sacred territorial borders of the Fatherland.

On the basis of the theory of strengthening national defense and security, firmly protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, our Party determined: To maximize the combined strength of the entire nation and the entire political system combined with the strength of the times, to maximize the consensus and support of the international community to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, to protect the Party, the State, the people, the socialist regime, the culture and national interests; to maintain a peaceful environment, political stability, national security and human security.

The Party's policy of ensuring national defense, security, foreign affairs and international cooperation determines: Building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite People's Army and People's Police, gradually modernizing, with a number of military branches, services and forces advancing straight to modernization, prioritizing the development of law enforcement forces at sea; constantly consolidating and strengthening the all-people national defense posture associated with the people's security posture in the sea area; ensuring the capacity to handle situations well at sea, maintaining independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests in the sea areas. Improving the capacity to respond to traditional and non-traditional security threats, ensuring national security, social order and safety, fighting to defeat all plots to take advantage of sea and island issues for sabotage.

Resolutely and persistently build and maintain a peaceful, stable and legal environment at sea, creating a foundation for safe and effective exploitation and use of the sea. Strengthen and expand foreign relations and international cooperation, proactively participate and actively contribute to the common efforts of the international community in the conservation and sustainable use of the sea and oceans; maximize resources and international support to improve the capacity of marine management and exploitation, focusing on the fields of science, technology, knowledge and human resource training.

In fact, in recent years, the situation in the East Sea has been complicated and unpredictable, sometimes threatening national sovereignty, security and the peaceful environment at sea. However, under the comprehensive leadership of the Party, the management of the State, directly by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, the national defense posture, the people's security posture at sea and the national defense potential have been consolidated, strengthened and improved; economic development has been linked with national defense and security in planning and plans. Forces in charge of protecting the sovereignty of seas and islands such as the Navy, Coast Guard and Border Guard have been invested in building revolutionary, disciplined, elite and modern forces.

Faced with the complicated developments of the situation at sea, our army and people, directly the Navy, Coast Guard, and Border Guard, always maintain a high state of combat readiness. Regularly grasp the situation, advise the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense to properly handle situations, absolutely not to be passively surprised in terms of strategy, firmly protect sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over seas, islands, and airspace. Absolutely maintain a peaceful and stable environment at sea, directly and significantly contribute to maintaining security, order, and social safety for national development.

The situation in the world and the region, especially in the East Sea, is still complicated and unpredictable, with local wars, proxy wars, violations of territorial sovereignty, resources and non-traditional security challenges. In the East Sea, disputes over sovereignty of islands and strategic competition between major countries are taking place in a tense and complicated manner, with the potential for conflict, threatening the security and territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland, affecting the stability and development of the country.

The document of the 13th National Party Congress clearly stated: The situation in the East Sea is increasingly complicated and unpredictable, seriously threatening peace, stability in the region and the investment and development environment, especially on islands.

5 priority solutions

To continue successfully implementing the Party's resolution on sea and island strategy for the cause of national construction and protection in the new context and situation, it is necessary to focus on implementing well the following solutions:

Firstly , strengthen propaganda for all social classes to raise awareness of the position and role of Vietnam's seas and islands in the cause of national construction and protection and the relationship between sustainable development of the marine economy and ensuring national defense, security and sovereignty in the new situation.

Second , constantly build, consolidate and strengthen the national defense posture and the people's security posture at sea; build the people's armed forces, first of all the Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard and Maritime Militia, strong, with comprehensive quality and high combat strength, capable of playing the core role in the task of managing and protecting the sovereignty of seas and islands.

Third , promote sustainable development of marine economic sectors according to defined strategies, plans and schemes. Closely combine economic, cultural and social development with strengthening and enhancing national defence and security in the sea and island areas of the Fatherland, especially the northern sea, the Gulf of Tonkin, the Truong Sa sea, DK1 and the Southwest sea.

Fourth , promote comprehensive strength, resolutely and persistently fight to firmly protect independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, airspace and sea; maintain a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Fifth , continue to expand and strengthen international cooperation, integrate into the international and regional economy, and expand defense and security cooperation. Build a peaceful and stable environment in the region and in the East Sea to develop the country and protect the territorial integrity of the Fatherland early, from afar, before the country is in danger.

In short, Vietnam's seas and islands are a sacred part of the Fatherland's territory, playing a particularly important role in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands and sustainably developing marine economic sectors, soon turning our country into a strong and rich nation from the sea is the task and responsibility of our entire Party, people and army.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/giu-vung-chu-quyen-bien-dao-va-bien-gioi-lanh-tho-thieng-lieng-trong-boi-canh-phuc-tap-259382.html