The 8^th Central Party Congress Resolution (the 13^th Tenure) identifies the principles for implementing the Strategy for Fatherland protection in the new situation, including several important contents; among them, it emphasises: not to fall into isolation, passivity, dependence, or confrontation; not to allow foreign countries to exploit, compromise with each other or with hostile and reactionary forces to harm national interests; and not to let our country become a battlefield or an area of strategic interest conflict among major countries.

The above Party’s principle consists of three contents (hereinafter referred to as the “three-not” principle), each representing a separate state and situation, but all inherently disadvantageous to the country, directly and dangerously affecting the Party, the people, and the army’s mission to build and protect the Fatherland. To bring the Fatherland Defence Strategy in the new situation to life, achieving the set goals and requirements as well as avoiding deviation and mistakes, it is necessary to deeply grasp this issue, serving as the basis for implementation.

Firstly, not to let the country fall into isolation, passivity, dependence, or confrontation. In the context of a complex, unpredictable global situation, with intertwined and transforming subjects and partners, and deep and wide international integration, achieving this principle is extremely important and not easy. Nonetheless, we must strive, as there is no other choice. Should this occur, it would be highly disadvantageous and dangerous, not only preventing the country from developing but also making it difficult to fulfill the task of protecting the Fatherland. Furthermore, this should be seen as a strategic issue and a principle that must be strictly followed both now and in the future.

How can we prevent the country from falling into isolation? We know that integration is a need for all countries and a trend of the times. Participating in this “arena”, expanding foreign relations, and “making more friends and reducing enemies” is the best way to avoid isolation. At the same time, it creates opportunities to attract external resources for the country’s development and Fatherland protection. Therefore, in the country’s renovation process, our Party has always pursued a policy of opening up, deeply and comprehensively integrating internationally, implementing “diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations…, and being a reliable friend, a partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community”, also aiming to achieve such goal, and the practical results have affirmed the correctness of our Party’s direction and approach. Through international integration and cooperation, not only can we eliminate the possibility of isolation, break the siege, and sanctions (if any), overcome passivity, but also proactively and effectively respond to sensitive, unforeseen situations when necessary, gaining sympathy and support from the international community, isolating reactionary, warmongering elements, and creating a position and strength to protect the Fatherland. Reality shows that with an open, friendly, and substantive foreign policy built on trust, more and more countries establish cooperative relations, becoming reliable partners of Vietnam and vice versa. Of course, there are still forces or countries with their own interests, bearing hostile ideologies, who continue to harbour conspiracies and actions to sabotage and isolate Vietnam. They are our subjects, and this is unavoidable. The important issue is that we need a dialectical, objective, comprehensive view, accurately assessing partners and subjects to behave wisely and appropriately in cooperation and struggle. Similarly, to avoid dependence, we must be extremely vigilant by adhering strictly to strategic principles and being flexible in strategy. Being dependent on foreign countries in any form or field would be extremely dangerous, as we would lose the right to self-determination and national independence - our most precious and highest interest. Along with this, we need to avoid falling into confrontation. Confrontation can easily lead to disaster, conflict, war. To prevent this, the Party and State have been implementing many strategies to protect the country and the Fatherland “early, from afar”, before danger arises, etc. In current international relations, Vietnam consistently demonstrates its stance as a friend and a reliable partner of countries around the world, regardless of political regime, especially in resolving disagreements, differences, disputes, and contradictions. Vietnam acts rationally and compassionately, based on international law, to resolutely and persistently resolve through peaceful dialogue and negotiations, avoiding tension, confrontation, and conflict.

Secondly, not to let foreign countries exploit or compromise with each other or with hostile and reactionary forces to harm the country - national interests. Vietnam is a sovereign country with development potential, an important geographical position, and influence in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, thus it is attracting multiple countries worldwide interested in cooperative relations. Among them, many countries are reliable partners, with relations for pure purposes. However, some countries and forces are not so. They relate to us, even help us, not out of goodwill, but they actually want to take advantage and exploit us to serve their strategic calculations and competition for interests in the region and the world. Therefore, in cooperative relations, we must be extremely cautious and constantly enhance vigilance, not to be exploited. Especially, in relations among major countries, we need to handle partners and subjects cleverly, increase intertwined interests, and strengthen strategic trust, not falling into a position of “taking sides”, being stuck between major countries or becoming a bargaining chip for their compromise, harming country - national interests. In the current complex, multi-dimensional international relations with intertwined interests, countries always prioritise country - national interests above all, so it is hard to assert that this will not recur. Of course, Vietnam’s situation, reputation, and position have changed significantly. With that advantage, we must not allow anyone to exploit or compromise on matters related to us, especially issues of independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity,... or if they dare to act, they must also consider and be wary. However, we should not be overly confident to reveal vulnerabilities, lose vigilance, and make regrettable mistakes.

Currently, we are facing a “smokeless war” - the fierce sabotage of hostile forces through the strategy of “Peaceful evolution”, combined with promoting “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” internally. This is not merely a challenge but a real threat to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland. This is a class struggle in a new form and under new conditions, happening very complexly due to the connection for sabotage of hostile and reactionary forces both domestically and internationally. Therefore, the struggle to defeat all conspiracies and actions of sabotage by hostile and reactionary forces is an urgent, important task for the entire Party, people, and army. To make this uncompromising struggle effective, we need to implement comprehensive solutions, use a combined force, but, first and foremost, eliminate all conspiracies and actions of sabotage by hostile and reactionary forces from the outset, not allowing them to form political opposition organisations domestically. At the same time, we must constantly grasp the situation, timely detect, and fight in many forms against foreign intervention in our internal affairs or support, facilitate domestic reactionary forces in carrying out sabotage activities against the Party, State, and People.

Finally, not to let our country become a battlefield or an area of strategic interest conflict among major countries. In the current situation, for our country to fall into such a situation is difficult, but that does not mean it cannot happen. Therefore, the Party’s establishment of this principle is to reflect new thinking aimed at firmly protecting the Fatherland in all situations.

As we have seen, humanity is witnessing a world full of fluctuations, highlighted by fierce strategic competition among countries, even confrontation. Major countries intensify strategic adjustments, pulling together forces, cooperating, compromising, and simultaneously fighting to restrain, intervene, and influence the internal affairs of other countries, creating challenges for developing ones. In such a complex context, maintaining independence, autonomy, and not falling into that “vortex” is not simple. With strategic vision and acute thinking, our Party has consistently implemented a balanced, harmonious interest strategy in relations with major countries. We do not lean towards any side in a “whichever way the wind blows” manner in foreign relations, but only support the just and righteous, based on international law and United Nations Charter. To avoid becoming a flashpoint, battlefield, or area of strategic interest conflict among major countries, and not being pulled and exploited and creating unnecessary hostility, confrontation with other countries, our Party has clearly demonstrated its stance and transparently announced its defence policy with the core content: “not participating in military alliances; not allying with one country against another; not allowing foreign countries to establish military bases or use Vietnamese territory to act against another; and not using force or threatening to use force in international relations”. This stance of our Party is a commitment, a peace message sent to all countries in the world, and a reminder for those to give up their intention of pulling, exploiting Vietnam for their strategic calculations and interests. In reality, with its geopolitical position, despite greatly being in need of resources for national development, Vietnam has frankly refused cooperation that brings significant economic benefits but is disadvantageous for the cause of protecting the Fatherland, as well as the peace and stability in the region and the world. It is evident that not every country can act like Vietnam, foregoing immediate, self-interests for long-term, overall benefits.

With a correct foreign policy and the high determination and effort of the entire Party, people, and army, we believe that we will effectively implement the Party’s “three-not” principle, not letting the country fall into the mentioned disadvantageous situations. It also serves as the basis to ensure the successful implementation of the Fatherland Protection Strategy in the new situation.

Major General NGUYEN MANH HUNG