Regarding the work of ensuring security and order and protecting the sea and islands, the Ministry of National Defense stated that Vietnam's maritime territory is defined by the 2012 Vietnamese Law of the Sea, in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Activities of organizations and individuals in Vietnam's maritime territory must comply with the regulations of Vietnamese law and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory. In recent times, the Ministry of National Defense has directed the entire military to strictly maintain combat readiness, constantly monitor the situation, and promptly report and advise the Party and State leaders on effective solutions and plans for handling situations, preventing passivity and surprise, and ensuring the preservation of national sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and a peaceful and stable environment in the maritime areas. Strengthen the deployment of Air Force, Navy, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and permanent militia units to perform duties such as patrolling, monitoring, managing, and enforcing the law; promptly detect, track, educate, and expel foreign vessels violating or encroaching on Vietnam's territorial waters. Regularly carry out search and rescue operations, support, and protect fishermen venturing out to sea to develop the economy while safeguarding maritime sovereignty and islands.
Regarding the maintenance of security and order at sea, the Ministry of National Defence has directed law enforcement forces to closely coordinate with functional forces of ministries, sectors, and localities to implement comprehensive measures to gather intelligence and combat crime, violations of the law, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking at sea. Specifically, it has intensified the implementation of the plan to combat IUU fishing by launching a high-intensity campaign to prevent and stop Vietnamese fishing vessels from illegally fishing in foreign waters. It has also promptly coordinated investigations, verification, and handling of networks involved in brokering and facilitating the illegal fishing of Vietnamese people and vessels abroad, as well as acts of coercion and assault against fishermen on board, thereby significantly reducing the number of incidents.
However, violations of IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing by Vietnamese fishing vessels continue to recur, including those from Binh Thuan province. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and education efforts to raise awareness and compliance with the law among the people, while simultaneously implementing strict management measures and severely punishing violations in accordance with the law. Efforts to combat illegal immigration, smuggling, trade fraud, and drug-related crimes must be intensified. Specifically, from the beginning of 2023 to the present, functional forces of the Ministry of National Defense have directly detected, coordinated arrests, investigations, and processed 1,232 cases/1,460 individuals involved in crimes and violations of the law at sea and in coastal areas. Maintain and effectively promote cooperation mechanisms and agreements with law enforcement agencies of countries in the region, promptly exchange information, coordinate the resolution of incidents related to maritime security and order, and effectively protect citizens.
Regarding information and communication work, the Ministry of National Defence affirms that it regularly exchanges and provides information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries and agencies to promptly serve the information and communication work with voters and the people nationwide on the situation of the sea and islands as prescribed.
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