The National Border Protection Strategy is an important document and basic orientation for the entire Party, people and army to carry out the task of protecting national sovereignty and borders. This is also the scientific and legal basis and foundation for the Border Guard to promote its core, specialised role to fulfill all assigned tasks.

The National Border Protection Strategy concretises the Party's viewpoints and guidelines on national defence and security. The Strategy contains predictions, preventive measures and countermeasures aiming to resolutely, persistently and effectively prevent and address any possible situation; avoid falling into passive or surprised situation. Referring to the national border guard force, the Strategy defines: “The Border Guard is a specialised force, first come and last stay in the protection of the national border.”

Thoroughly grasping that spirit, over the years, the Border Guard has always promoted its role of a specialised force, effectively performing the task of firmly defending the independence, sovereignty, territorial unity and integrity; protecting peace, security, culture, laws, solemnity and national symbols at borders and border gates.

Border Guard units always actively advise local Party committees and authorities, closely coordinate with relevant forces to effectively handle incidents occurring on the border; proactively develop plans, deploy forces and means to well respond to situations, especially non-traditional security situations. In particular, in the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control, Border Guard officers and soldiers have overcome difficulties, endured hardships, stayed on the frontline, strictly managed borders, border gates, trails and open paths to repel the pandemic, which was trusted, recognised and appreciated by the Party, State and People.

However, there are still difficulties and limitations in the implementation. The research, grasp, evaluation and forecast of situations have not been always thorough, timely and consistent. The management and protection of borders and border gates, and the control of entry-exit remain some loopholes and inadequacies. The crime prevention and combat, the fight against law violations, especially smuggling and commercial fraud, have not always been effective with some sporadic mistakes. The coordination with other forces, especially at the grassroots level, is still limited; some complicated situations of security and order in border areas have not been completely addressed, etc. That practice requires the Border Guard to continue promoting its specialised role, successfully implementing the National border protection Strategy in the new situation, with a variety of synchronous and effective solutions with a focus on the following:

First, enhance the work of education and propagation to raise the awareness and responsibility of all levels, branches, localities and people in the national borders construction, management and protection. National border management and protection is an essential and regular task of the entire Party, people, army, and political system so as to promote the synergy of the whole country to implement the National border protection Strategy. Therefore, Border Guard units need to regularly enhance the work of education and propagation to raise awareness for cadres at all levels, branches, localities and the whole people about the Party's policies and guidelines, laws of the State, laws and international treaties related to national borders. This helps the cadres well aware of plots and artifices to sabotage and infringe upon territorial sovereignty and national interests in border areas. Enhance the work of education and propagation for forces related to border management and protection about national defence and security, laws on national borders, and activities in border areas and border gates. Regarding measures, it is necessary to diversify forms and methods of propagation and education which suit the target audience and locality. Continuing to implement the Government's Project: “Strengthening law dissemination and education for cadres and people in border areas and islands”, and the Ministry of National Defence’s Project of “Renovating political education at military units in the new period”. Promoting the effectiveness of the program “Improving political awareness and legal understanding for border officers, people and soldiers” launched by the Border Guard Command.

Second, improve the ability to grasp, evaluate and forecast the situation, meeting the requirements and tasks of border management and protection in the new situation. In order to firmly manage and protect territorial sovereignty and national border security, the Border Guard need to improve their ability to grasp, evaluate and forecast situations, especially the domestic and foreign situations, moves and trends of countries in solving border and territorial issues, as well as the activities of hostile forces to infringe upon national sovereignty, borders, territories, etc. On that basis, proactively and promptly report to and advise the Party, State, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, on the task of national border management and protection; and on the policy and countermeasures to handle situations. These aim to avoid falling into a passive and surprised position; to disallow hostile and reactionary forces to take advantage of situations to  sabotage and cause complicated problems on the border lines, especially in areas where there is still a backlog of demarcation and marker planting on Vietnam - Cambodia land border; and in  strategic and key areas. Resolutely and persistently protect territorial sovereignty, natural resources, environment and national interests.

Third, participate in building and consolidating strong grassroots political systems. Closely combine national border construction, management and protection, in which border construction is the central task, management and protection are crucial and regular. Focusing on building and consolidating strong grassroots political systems, creating a solid foundation for building the all-people’s national defence posture and all-people's security posture, in which the focus is placed on the all-people border guard in border areas; at the same time, promoting socio-economic development in association with strengthening national defence and security. In order to effectively implement the above contents, the Border Guard should actively participate in consolidating, strengthening and improving the leadership capacity and combat strength of Party committees and organisations at all levels; well developing Party membership in remote, isolated and ethnic minority areas; continue to carry out the Conclusion No. 68-KL/TW, dated February 5, 2020 of the Secretariat on the implementation of the pilot policy to increase the number of Border Guard officers participating in the border districts’ Party Committee for replication on a national scale. Bring into full play the role of the Border Guard officers who are posted to disadvantaged communes, and the  Party members of Border Guard Stations who are in charge of households in border village cells. This aims to avoid the situation of villages without party organisations and members. Continue to advise on the development of projects, plans and mechanisms for the implementation of Resolution No. 16-NQ/TW, dated October 10, 2017 of the Politburo, Resolution No. 20/NQ-CP, dated August 17, 2018 of the Government on socio-economic development of land-border communes, in combination with strengthening and consolidating national defence, security and foreign affairs. Coordinate with all levels and sectors to effectively implement programs, movements and models to help people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in border areas.

Fourth, build a comprehensive strong Border Guard force, meeting the requirements and tasks of managing and protecting national borders. This is an important measure, which is most fundamental and core factor, in order to firmly manage and protect national border sovereignty in all situations.  First of all, it is necessary to build a politically strong Border Guard force as a basis to improve the overall quality, combat strength, and fulfill all assigned tasks. Party committees and commanders of agencies and units need to effectively implement the Project on renovation of political education work at their units in the new period; attach importance to education on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, traditions and tasks of the Army and Border Guard; clearly aware of partners and adversary, plots and artifices of hostile forces and criminals. Also it is necessary to help cadres and soldiers build a steadfast and consistent political courage, absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, the State and the people, overcome all difficulties, be ready to undertake and fulfill all assigned task. At the same time, promote the innovation in training and improve the expertise of border guard work for subjects, especially those performing specific tasks in key and complicated border areas. Continue to strictly implement Directive No. 103/CT-BQP, dated November 28, 2019 of the Minister of National Defence on strengthening the management, education, discipline compliance and safety assurance in military. Focus on building comprehensively strong, “exemplary and typical” units. Take care of the material and spiritual life of the soldiers. Build a healthy military cultural environment. Continue to reform military administration, deploy the application of e-Government in agencies and units.

Fifth, actively coordinate with forces and strengthen international cooperation in the management and protection of national borders. Closely combining the Party's diplomacy, the State's diplomacy, and the people's diplomacy with defence diplomacy and border guard diplomacy together with implementing “both cooperation and combat” to protect the national border are the guidelines for the border protection of the Border Guard. Therefore, in the coming time, units need to effectively promote the implementation of projects and programs on foreign relations and international cooperation in the construction and protection of national borders, focusingon the Project of International integration in defence until 2020, with a vision to 2030”.

Develop models of border protection cooperation between Vietnam's Border Guards with contiguous countries and relevant countries; maintain “hot lines”, joint patrols, information meetings and exchanging; coordinate in preventing and combating cross-border crimes, search and rescue, overcoming consequences of natural disasters in border areas, etc.

At the same time, promote international cooperation with other countries and international organisations in training; invest in equipment and technical means for border management and protection, border control and crime prevention.

Sr. Col., Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Bang, Deputy Director of Border Guard Academy