Firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland is an important, regular task and the responsibility of the entire Party, people and army. To complete this noble task, it is necessary to promote the combined strength of all levels, sectors, forces, the entire political system and the entire people, in which, promoting the core role of the Vietnam People's Navy is a matter of primary importance.

Vietnam is a littoral state, boasting a large sea area, a long coastline, and over 3,000 large and small islands located across the country's seas, including Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands in the East and Southeast of the country. Vietnam's seas are rich in resources, minerals, and seafood and occupy important international shipping routes. Therefore, Vietnam's seas and islands both provide "living space" and serve as particularly important front line of defence in the cause of national construction and defence.

Thoroughly grasping the resolutions and directives of the Party and State on sea and island strategy, in recent years, all levels, sectors, localities and the Navy have regularly cared and led the synchronous implementation of solutions to protect sea and island sovereignty and gained significant results.

Military cadets visits Truong Sa Islands

It is anticipated that in the time to come, the world and regional situations will be increasingly complex and unpredictable; strategic rivalry among major powers will be fiercer; the East Sea continues to harbour risks of conflict; hostile forces try to leverage the situation at sea to step up their sabotage in different areas. This is coupled with non-traditional security challenges, new methods of combat, etc. posing higher requirements for the task of Motherland protection in general, and protecting sovereignty over seas and islands, in particular. Therefore, to successfully protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands in the new situation, it is required that we promote the combined strength of all levels, sectors, forces, localities and the whole country, with many practical, synchronous and effective solutions, in which promoting the core role of the Vietnam People's Navy represents the leading one. To this end, it is necessary to focus on the following contents:

First of all, promoting propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors and people about the task of protecting sea and island sovereignty. In the coming time, all levels, sectors, localities, forces, especially the Navy, should continue to promote propaganda and education to make cadres, party members and people, especially people living in coastal provinces, forces operating at sea and the young generations, understand more about the position, role and importance of the sea and islands in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; thereby, raising their awareness, consciousness, responsibility, solidarity, and determination in managing, fighting and protecting the country's sea and island sovereignty. The content of propaganda and education should be extensive, comprehensive, focusing on historical evidence, legal basis, and practices affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over its seas, including Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands; plots and schemes of hostile forces, new moves of countries in the East Sea; resolutions and directives of our Party and State on seas, islands, and protecting the sovereignty of the seas and islands of the Fatherland, etc.

When conducting propaganda and education, it is necessary to flexibly and creatively apply different forms and measures. In addition to propaganda and education on mass media, seminars, conferences, discussion, forums, competitions, socio-political events, etc., there is a need to closely coordinate with forces, promote propaganda at international forums, in order to promote the image of Vietnamese country and people to the world, while seeking the sympathy and support of international countries and organisations for our struggle to protect the sovereignty and sovereign rights over seas and islands. Moreover, the Navy should regularly coordinate closely with the Border Guard, the Coast Guard, Fisheries Surveillance and other functional forces to promote propaganda and dissemination about laws on seas and islands to fishermen, making them clearly aware of the attempt ion of hostile forces to violate and encroach on the country’s sovereignty over seas and islands; thereby, they raise their vigilance, actively fight to defeat acts of encroachment.

Second, closely coordinating with local Party committees, authorities and functional forces in protecting sea and island sovereignty. Protecting sea and island sovereignty firmly is a regular and important task of all levels, sectors, forces, the entire political system and people. In order to promote the combined strength of forces in carrying out this important task, the Navy should continue to advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to coordinate with provinces, cities, central agencies, domestic and foreign press and news agencies to implement extensively the agreed contents and programmes on sea and islands. The focus should be on the programme "Vietnam People's Navy acting as helping hand for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea" and movements and campaigns to build funds "For beloved Truong Sa", "For the sea and islands of the Homeland - For the frontline of the Fatherland", "Greening Truong Sa", etc. Continue to closely coordinate with central and local departments, ministries, branches and enterprises to select delegates, develop plans, mobilise resources, ensure facilities, logistics and techniques to serve the visiting delegations coming to work and encourage soldiers and people on Truong Sa and DK1 platforms.

Besides, it is necessary to closely coordinate with the Fisheries Surveillance, Border Guard, Coast Guard, etc. to develop plans for patrol and control in sea areas, promptly detect, prevent, and effectively combat acts of encroachment and violations of sovereignty and sovereign rights over seas and islands in accordance with Vietnam laws and Constitution, and international law; maintain a peaceful and stable environment for socio-economic development, and strengthen national defence and security at sea.

Signing cooperation agreement with Nha Trang Municipal Party Committee

Third, building a "seasoned, compact, and strong" Vietnam People's Navy straight to modernity, truly becoming the core force in protecting sea and island sovereignty. In the current context, the task of Homeland protection in general, protecting sea and island sovereignty in particular, poses increasingly high requirements, requiring that the Navy - the core force in protecting sea and island sovereignty is built "seasoned, compact, strong", advancing straight to modernity according to the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and Resolution of the 11th Military Party Congress. Accordingly, the Navy should thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the resolutions, directives and instructions of the Ministry of National Defence on force adjustment; focus on building its agencies and units strong in politics, ideology, ethics, organisation and personnel, as a basis for improving its overall quality and combat strength. Regularly innovate and improve the quality of training and exercises for subjects, focusing on synchronous and specialised training, joint operations, marine command and staff to protect sovereignty over seas and islands, etc. to ensure that naval officers and soldiers develop firm political stance and are well-trained.

In the context of the rapid developments of science and technology, the Navy should proactively advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to propose to the Party and the State to acquire new-generation weapons and hardware with outstanding features, especially small missile boats, multi-purpose patrol boats, torpedoes, etc. for combat operations in near-shore waters. It is necessary to research and develop the art of naval warfare; apply science, technology, and digital technology to training, patrolling, inspection, monitoring, and combat missions at sea; adjust the force deployment in accordance with the organisational structure and requirements of naval warfare in the new situation; thereby, forming an all-people national defence posture at sea, ready to defeat invaders from the sea.

Fourth, promoting international cooperation, defence diplomacy, and make the most of external resources for the protection of sea and island sovereignty. Thoroughly grasping the resolutions and directives of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defence on international integration and defence diplomacy, the Navy should promote cooperation with its counterparts of other countries in many fields; focusing on law enforcement at sea, protecting the marine environment, search and rescue, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, security and safety of navigation, etc. Moreover, it should also increase exchanges, training, capacity building, cooperation in research, application of science and technology, etc. to create opportunities for officers and employees to exchange experiences, gain new knowledge and technology, strengthen mutual trust and understanding, contributing to enhancing the overall strength of the Navy, meeting the requirements of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Last but not least, the Navy should actively participate in international maritime security cooperation mechanisms, especially cooperation mechanisms within the ASEAN framework; effectively implement international commitments of Vietnam in the field of sea and islands; thereby, enhancing the position and prestige of the country in general, and the Vietnam People's Navy, in particular in the international arena, while mobilising external resources for generating an overall strength to firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Senior Colonel, Associate Professor, Dr. HO THANH HOA, Deputy Director of the Naval Academy