Ensuring national defense and security of borders and sea areas in the central coastal provinces and cities in the new situation

TCCS - Ensuring national defense and security, especially border and sea security in the central coastal provinces and cities in the new context is a crucial issue. Accordingly, it is necessary to implement synchronous solutions to contribute to the successful implementation of the task of building and protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member and Minister of National Defense , paints the sovereignty marker at the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia border junction (Quang Ngai province)_Source: daibieunhandan.vn

1 - National defense and security play a particularly important role in our nation's cause of building and defending the country, and at the same time are a solid foundation for the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland. Inheriting the viewpoints from the Congresses,   The document of the 13th National Party Congress continues to emphasize: “Strengthening national defense and security, firmly protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland is an important and regular task of the Party, the State, the political system and the entire people, in which the People's Army and the People's Public Security are the core” ⁽¹⁾ , contributing to creating favorable conditions for the cause of socio-economic development. In the process of innovation and international integration, our Party, the State, the political system and the entire people always identify national defense and security as an important and regular task, in which the People's Army and the People's Public Security play the core role. The viewpoints of the Party and State have emphasized the significance and importance of national defense and security in maintaining independence, sovereignty , stability and development of the country.

Over the past years, under the leadership of the Party, the management of the State and the consensus of the entire people, the national defense and security tasks have achieved many important achievements. The national defense and security potential has been firmly consolidated; the fighting strength of the People's Army and the People's Public Security has been constantly enhanced. The national defense posture associated with people's security and the national border defense has been firmly built, especially in key areas. The work of building defense zones, coordinating the protection of political security, social order and safety has been effectively implemented. Vietnam has actively integrated into the international community, participated in the United Nations peacekeeping operations, expanded defense and security cooperation with other countries, and enhanced the country's position. The work of educating the entire people about national defense and security has been focused on, contributing to raising awareness and responsibility for protecting the Fatherland throughout society. This result affirms the correctness of the Party's defense and security policy, firmly ensuring a stable environment for national development.

The Central coastal provinces and cities ⁽²⁾ manage more than 1,900km of coastline and nearly 1,500km of land border ⁽³⁾ , which is a very important area in terms of politics, economy, national defense and security. This is also an area located on an important maritime route of the East Sea, connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean; an international trade artery, where the interests of major powers intersect. The Central region is also the gateway to the sea for Vietnam and neighboring countries, such as Laos and Cambodia, through the East-West Economic Corridor; a center for developing the marine economy in tourism, seafood, maritime transport, and renewable energy. This is the front line of protecting sovereignty, with areas of high value in terms of national defense - security and deep-water ports. Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22, 2018, of the 8th Conference of the 12th Central Committee, “On the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam's Marine Economy to 2030, with a Vision to 2045” identifies the development of sea, coastal and island areas as important areas, as outposts to protect the Fatherland. Security and safety of the sea and border areas of the Central region play a vital role in the national strategy.

From the important strategic position, the Politburo of each term has issued many resolutions: Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW, dated August 16, 2004, of the Politburo (9th term), "On socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions until 2010"; Conclusion No. 25-KL/TW, dated August 2, 2012, of the Politburo, "On continuing to implement Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW, dated August 16, 2004 of the Politburo of the 9th term to promote socio-economic development and ensure national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions until 2020"; Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW, dated November 3, 2022, of the Politburo, on "Socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions to 2030, with a vision to 2045". In recent years, all levels, sectors, and provinces and cities in the Central Coast have clearly recognized the role, position, and importance of the region; the combined strength of the political system has been mobilized; many bottlenecks in socio-economic development have been removed, the potential and advantages of each locality have been aroused, achieving many important and comprehensive results in most fields. Actively advising and proposing to the Politburo, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister to issue many legal documents on military and defense tasks. At the same time, proactively review, develop, and supplement mechanisms, policies, planning and plans to effectively carry out national defense and security tasks associated with socio-economic development in accordance with reality. The effectiveness of coordination between the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security and localities has been increasingly improved. Functional forces have proactively deployed solutions to ensure national defense and security, contributing to maintaining political security, order and social safety. Border Guard, Navy, Coast Guard, Military Region 4, Military Region 5, Police and related forces have closely coordinated, grasped the situation, promptly advised on the handling of complex issues of sovereignty, border security, sea and islands. Proactively develop plans to fight and prevent all plots to sabotage the Party and the State. Strengthen coordination in managing border gates and seaports, closely inspect and monitor people and vehicles. The central coastal localities effectively implemented plans to ensure security and safety for ships, respond to natural disasters, rescue, prevent and fight fires, explosions, forest fires, and rescue the collapse and incidents of aircraft and ships at sea. Actively built a national defense posture associated with the people's security posture, implemented many socio-economic development movements, built new rural areas, and promoted aquaculture in coastal areas.

However, the task of ensuring national defense and security in the central coastal provinces and cities has recently faced many new difficulties and challenges. The world situation has shifted sharply from "unipolar" to "multipolar, multi-centered", major countries have stepped up competition to gain advantages in the new world situation, promoting the "restructuring" of world security. The Asia-Pacific region has become a "focus" in the competition for influence between major countries, with potential risks of security instability. The situation in the East Sea is increasingly complicated and unpredictable. Domestically, the renovation process has brought about increasingly high foundations, potential, position and international prestige, but there are still many challenges and new complex problems have emerged. Reactionary forces and political opportunists continue to promote "peaceful evolution", promote "self-evolution", "self-transformation", "depoliticization of the Army" with increasingly sophisticated and insidious tricks ⁽⁴⁾ ; the risk of terrorism, protests, and disturbances tends to increase. The terrain is complex, the border is long, traffic is difficult; the deployment of forces and defense and military potential in the central coastal provinces and cities still faces difficulties; non-traditional security challenges, such as natural disasters, climate change, and marine environmental pollution are increasingly severe. On the other hand, there is a lack of synchronization in socio-economic development, infrastructure, and propaganda work on defense and security is not extensive; inter-sectoral coordination capacity in managing and controlling maritime and border security among forces still has some shortcomings. From that reality, there is an urgent need to constantly consolidate and enhance the defense and security potential of the central coastal provinces and cities to meet the requirements of building and protecting the Fatherland in the new situation.

Military-civilian relationship between soldiers of Con Co Border Post and fishermen on Con Co Island, Quang Tri Province_Photo: VNA

2 - In the coming time, the forecast of the world and regional situation is that peace, cooperation and development are still the main trends, but there are many potential complications; strategic competition and trade between major countries are fierce, in which conflicts in the world continue to affect countries in many ways. In the country, hostile forces promote "peaceful evolution", promote "self-evolution", "self-transformation" within the country to "depoliticize the army". Natural disasters, epidemics, environmental pollution, etc. are increasingly complicated. This poses new challenges to the work of ensuring national defense and security, especially border security, airspace and sea areas in the central coastal provinces and cities. Accordingly, it is necessary to synchronously and drastically implement solutions to ensure national defense and security, especially border security and sea areas in the central coastal provinces and cities:

The first, constantly raise awareness of national defense strategy in the new situation.

This is the most important solution, of decisive significance to the task of ensuring national defense and security, because awareness is the source of action, only with correct awareness can there be appropriate solutions. In particular, it is necessary to correctly perceive legal documents related to national defense and security tasks, especially the principle of determining the main combat objects and objects that need to be vigilant and cautious of our Army, closely following the spirit of Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW, dated November 24, 2023, of the 8th Central Conference of the 13th tenure, "On the Strategy to protect the Fatherland in the new situation"; strengthen the leadership, management and operation of local Party committees and authorities in performing the task of ensuring security of borders, airspace and sea areas in the provinces and cities of the Central coastal region. Proactively develop plans for politics, economics, diplomacy, military, and foreign affairs, focusing on building a "sleek, compact, and strong" army, preventing early and far-reaching risks of conflict and aggressive wars. Correctly perceive the need to ensure national defense and security, thereby having determination and synchronous solutions to strengthen national defense and security of the borders, airspace, and seas of the central coastal provinces and cities, ensuring the maintenance of sovereignty and interests of borders, seas, and islands in all situations.

Second, consolidate and strengthen the national defense and people's security, build a solid national defense posture associated with a solid people's security posture in the central coastal provinces and cities.

This is a long-term solution to ensure national defense and security, especially promoting the combined strength of the entire people in building and protecting the Fatherland. Accordingly, it is necessary to focus on socio-economic development, improving people's lives, and at the same time closely combining economic development with ensuring national defense and security, solving social problems, building a people's heart, relying on the people, and being close to the people to have a solid people's security and national defense posture, promptly detecting, preventing, and combating activities that cause disorder, social insecurity, riots, terrorism, and maintaining political stability, order, and social security in the central coastal provinces and cities. In particular, it is necessary to do a good job of propaganda and raising awareness among the people, especially ethnic minorities, to ensure that people are "immune" to propaganda, distortions and incitements by hostile and reactionary forces, thereby having confidence and responsibility in protecting the country's sovereignty and security.

Third, proactively research, grasp, and correctly assess changes in the international and regional environment and the situation in the East Sea, and avoid being passive or surprised in any situation.

This is a key and fundamental solution in Vietnam's security and defense strategy in the context of integration and complex changes in the world situation. Accordingly, it is necessary to propose a synchronous, resolute and persistent solution to firmly protect the sovereignty of borders, airspace and sea areas in the central coastal provinces and cities by peaceful means on the basis of international law, Vietnamese law and other bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements. Along with that, strengthen the coordination of patrolling, controlling and managing borders on land and at sea between forces (Army, Police, Border Guard, militia and self-defense force), promptly grasp the area, prevent and defeat plots, intentions, plans, measures, tricks and activities to promote the strategy of "peaceful evolution", "self-evolution, self-transformation", "depoliticization of armed forces", "civilization" of defense tasks, and sabotage of national border security in the new situation.

Fourth, persistently implement an independent and autonomous foreign policy and the "four no's" policy.

This is the key solution for defense and security diplomacy in the overall strategy to firmly protect the sovereignty of the borders, airspace and seas of the Fatherland. Be determined, persistent and skillful to avoid being caught up in the vortex of competition between major powers, properly handle relations with neighboring countries, contribute to building a peaceful, stable and developed border area on land and at sea. In particular, it is necessary to consolidate and strengthen solidarity among the three Indochinese countries, contributing to maintaining sovereignty and security in the strategic areas of the West and Southwest. Along with promoting and strengthening strategic trust through cooperation mechanisms, strengthen economic cooperation, especially in the border area. Attach importance to defense and security cooperation with Laos and Cambodia.

Fifth, continue to research and adjust the forces and strategic deployment of defense and security forces. suitable in the new situation.

Solutions to maintain a strategic position in the deployment of forces and appropriate defense and security posture in the new situation, especially after rearranging and reorganizing administrative units at all levels and building a two-level local government model; building defense zones in areas of strategic defense and security value, ensuring successful handling when situations arise. Researching and selecting to purchase modern weapons and equipment with strong "deterrence" power; strengthening the potential of the Air Force, Navy, Border Guard, Coast Guard and units performing the task of protecting the sovereignty of borders, seas and islands to be ready to fight and fight victoriously in all situations. Promoting development and cooperation in the defense industry, towards self-sufficiency in weapons and equipment. Strengthening and improving the quality of military training and careful preparation, ensuring synchronous defense posture in the central coastal provinces and cities. Along with that, promptly adjust the Border, Sea and Airspace Protection Plan to suit the security environment, combat objects and scale of enemy force and means use.

Ensuring national defense and security nationwide in general and in the central coastal provinces and cities in particular is a strategic task in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland. The results achieved in recent times are a solid foundation to continue consolidating and enhancing the potential of national defense and security, meeting the task of protecting the Fatherland in all situations. In the face of increasingly high and comprehensive requirements and tasks, the synchronous implementation of key directions and solutions is an inevitable requirement, contributing to enhancing the overall strength, the national defense posture associated with strong people's security, creating a stable foundation for socio-economic development. Building the central coastal region into a solid "fence", a strategic outpost in protecting territorial sovereignty, airspace, sea and islands, making an important contribution to the cause of building and firmly protecting the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in the new situation./.

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(1) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2021, vol. I, p. 156
(2) According to Conclusion No. 65-TB/DU, dated June 4, 2025, of the Government Party Committee, "On the orientation of zoning adjustment and adjustment of socio-economic regional planning", the Central coastal provinces and cities include: 1- The North Central region includes 5 provinces and cities: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue; 2- The South Central region (South Central Coast and Central Highlands) includes 6 provinces and cities: Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong
(3) Article on statistical data of provinces and cities from Thanh Hoa to Lam Dong after administrative unit rearrangement (July 1, 2025)
(4) See: Phan Van Giang: "Promoting heroic traditions, glorious careers, building a strong Vietnam People's Army, firmly protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland", Communist Magazine , No. 1,052 (December 2024), p. 14

Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/thuc-tien-kinh-nghiem1/-/2018/1154802/bao-dam-quoc-phong---an-ninh-bien-gioi%2C-vung-bien-tren-dia-ban-cac-tinh%2C-thanh-pho-duyen-hai-mien-trung-trong-tinh-hinh-moi.aspx