The program entitled the Vietnam People’s Navy serves as a pillar for fishermen to “reach out to the sea” (hereinafter referred to as the Program) not only embodies the Vietnam People’s Army’s function as an army ready for work, but also directly contributes to cementing military - civilian solidarity and building a firm posture of “people’s hearts and minds”. In recent years, the Program has yielded significant results. However, due to several issues emerging from the implementation of the Program, there should be more researches to introduce appropriate solutions for the upcoming time.

Vietnam’s seas and islands hold strategic position in our economy, politics, culture, society, and defence and security. Fully aware of that, our Party and State have issued numerous resolutions and directives to promote economic development and enhance defence and security simultaneously, with a view to making Vietnam a maritime powerhouse characterised by sustainable development, prosperity, and safety.

Naval Region 4 gives presents to fishermen in difficulty (photo: qdnd.vn)

Alongside the successful fulfilment of its central political tasks, in recent years, the Vietnam People’s Navy (the VPN) has taken the lead in encouraging the population to implement the Party’s lines and the State’s policies and laws, making significant contributions to socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and “paying debt of gratitude” activities, particularly in strategic, border, sea, island areas. Notably, the Program has been effectively carried out by units across the Navy. Through the Program, a wide range of support activities have been conducted to assist fishermen in sustainably exploiting marine resources and encourage them to reach out to the sea and permanently reside on remote islands. By doing so, they serve as both “fishermen in peacetime and soldiers in times of conflict”. The VPN has also protected fishermen from natural disasters and threats posed by foreign forces, guiding them to actively participate in surveillance, reconnaissance, and patrol activities, deter foreign incursions and protect national sovereignty over seas and islands, thereby successfully fulfilling its role as a pillar for fishermen to “reach out to the sea”, reinforcing “people’s hearts and minds” posture, laying the groundwork for building all-people national defence posture in close connection with people’s security posture at sea. This proactive approach ensures the protection of the mainland “early and from afar”, safeguarding the national sacred sovereignty over seas, islands, and continental shelf.

Alongside notable achievements, there are certain shortcomings and drawbacks in promoting the role of the Navy as a pillar for fishermen to “reach out to the sea”. Hence, there should be more researches and practical solutions to this work in the time ahead.

First, improving the quality and effectiveness of sea and island propagation in the new context. In spite of certain positive results, some agencies, units, cadres, party members, and citizens have yet to fully understand the importance of our seas and islands to socio-economic development, defence, and security. It is, therefore, necessary to continue improving the quality and effectiveness of this work, generating a strong transformation in public awareness and responsibility towards Vietnam’s seas and islands. This will help create consensus about the Party’s lines and the State’s policies and laws on managing and safeguarding seas and islands among all social strata and within international community. In practice, it is important to research and evaluate the overall situation so as to identify appropriate propagation content and methods. Regular training should be provided for cadres in charge of sea and island propagation within the VPN’s units. Furthermore, there should be a constant reform in content, methods, and approaches for the sake of enhanced effectiveness of propagation. The VPN should cooperate with localities and relevant forces in sea and island propagation, conducting preliminary and final reviews of propagation work, thereby improving the quality and effectiveness of sea and island propagation in the new situation.

Second, renewing the content and forms of assisting and protecting fishermen at sea. This is an important solution to enabling fishermen to remain their steadfastness and determination to reach out to the sea. Emphasis should be placed on providing information about situational developments in Vietnam’s seas. It is essential to mobilise and effectively utilise available resources to provide material and technical support, ensuring the safety of fishermen at sea for extended periods. This includes designating safe anchoring locations and ensuring access to essential supplies, such as fuel, fresh water, food, medicine, and medical equipment. Search and rescue operations must also be carried out in a timely, effective manner. The success of these efforts depends heavily on naval troops’ awareness and sense of responsibility towards the work of assisting and protecting fishermen. Close cooperation with local authorities and relevant forces should be maintained to opportunely, swiftly provide information and assistance for fishermen. In particular, the role of special zones and defence - economic zones must be promoted to offer medical services and fishery logistics support. Furthermore, the VPN should proactively give natural disaster relief and effectively conduct search and rescue operations at sea. In addition, social resources must be actively mobilised to provide practical, sustained support for fishermen at sea.

Third, closely cooperating with organisations and relevant forces in guiding fishermen to participate in safeguarding the nation’s sea and island sovereignty. Effectively carrying out this task will unleash the full potential of synergy in executing our Party and State’s military and defence lines. It will also contribute to building and strengthening all-people national defence posture and people’s war posture at sea in the new context. Hence, priority should be given to raising fishermen’s awareness of the strategic importance of seas and islands, as well as the necessity of protecting sea and island sovereignty. Education efforts must include the Party’s national defence lines, military art, and viewpoints on peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. Regular cooperation with local party committees and authorities is needed in formulating and realising plans for managing and training fishermen in knowledge of national defence and sovereignty protection. At grassroots level, consideration should be given to building a strong local political system, cementing “people’s hearts and minds” posture, and promoting the power of great national unity in safeguarding sovereignty. Due regard should be paid to collaborating with coastal localities to manage and deploy civilian personnel, fishing vessels, and equipment in sovereignty protection operations. Additionally, the VPN should maintain strong cooperation with the Border Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard in guiding fishermen to take part in sea and island defence activities. Additionally, it is essential to develop training programs and exercises for mobilised forces in sea and island sovereignty protection and search and rescue operations. Resources should be effectively mobilised and utilised to support and protect fishermen at sea in combination with firmly safeguarding national sovereignty over seas and islands.

Fourth, combining economic development with defence consolidation within the VPN’s operations, creating a favourable condition for assisting and protecting fishermen at sea. This solution seeks to establish practical, solid, and sustainable material and spiritual foundations for fishermen to work at sea. To this end, it is important to continue promoting propagation and education to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among cadres, citizens, and relevant forces regarding the need to combine economic development with national defence and vice versa in the Navy’s operations at sea. The VPN should enhance its role in developing economic - technical infrastructures in coastal and island areas, thereby creating favourable material foundations for assisting and protecting fishermen. Combination of economic development and defence consolidation should be included in development projects in sea and island areas, with priority given to allocating resources for developing special zones and defence - economic zones at sea to effectively realise military and defence strategies in these special and strategic locations. Additionally, the productivity and efficiency of economic activities in the VPN’s units should be further improved as the basis for assisting and protecting fishermen in the new situation.

Fifth, well performing staff work for the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to propose the building of all-people national defence posture and “people’s heart and mind” posture at sea to the Party and State. Effectively adopting this solution will enhance the Party’s leadership and the State’s management regarding seas and islands. It will also strengthen the capacity to handle situations at sea, ensuring the protection of independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and national interests in our waters, thereby firmly safeguarding national sovereignty over seas and islands and providing solid support for fishermen to reach out to the sea. It is necessary to focus on raising the quality of strategic research and forecast relating to the protection of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty. New mechanisms and policies are crucial for stepping up propagation and education towards the task of building all-people national defence posture at sea. The VPN must also actively advise the Party and State on perfecting institutions and policies on maritime management and protection. Additionally, continued efforts should be made to organise the VPN in an adept, compact, strong manner as the core force in safeguarding national sovereignty over seas and islands.

While the above-mentioned solutions do not fully address every aspect of the complex task of promoting the VPN’s role as a pillar for fishermen to “reach out to the sea”, they highlight critical directions. These serve as key reference points for relevant agencies, forces, and units in formulating appropriate policies and implementing effective measures. By doing so, they will contribute meaningfully to enhancing the VPN’s role as a pillar for fishermen to reach out to the sea in the new situation.

Sr. Col. PHAM DUC HUNG

Deputy Political Commissar of the Vietnam Naval Academy