In the face of rapid, complex changes throughout the world and in the region, the task of managing and protecting national security and sovereignty over seas and islands has been posing numerous challenges to the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG). Properly recognising and addressing these issues will enable the VCG to fulfil its role as the core force in law enforcement and in maintaining national security, order, and safety at sea.

Vietnam’s seas and islands are a sacred and integral part of national sovereignty, serving as gateways for international exchange, holding a position of critical strategic importance to the cause of national construction and defence. They are also strategic areas of national defence and security, acting as a vital defensive line that creates a significant space for controlling access to the mainland. Currently, potential destabilising factors for Vietnam’s national security and at sea remain complex and unpredictable; the risk of conflict and dispute over seas, islands, and continental shelf has not been eliminated yet. Additionally, non-traditional security issues, such as smuggling, trade fraud, fishing ground dispute, and environmental degradation due to resource exploitation, with their increasingly complex, unpredictable developments, have been threatening not only Vietnam’s national defence and security, but also the maritime safety of many countries in the region. Therefore, now more than ever, the VCG must closely cooperate with various forces in promoting combined strength to firmly protect national sovereignty, security, and a peaceful environment at sea.

Coast Guard Region 4 seizes an illegal oil tanker in the Fatherland’s Southwestern sea (photo: tuoitre.vn)

Legal documents, mechanisms, and policies remain top priorities, creating a solid framework for the VCG to safeguard sovereignty and uphold security, order, and a peaceful environment at sea. Well-synchronised, high-quality, timely, and practically-oriented legal documents will enhance the effectiveness of maritime sovereignty protection. Therefore, it is necessary for the State to continue improving the legal system to specify regulations on seas and islands as well as the task of safeguarding maritime security and sovereignty. This includes continuing negotiations and signing agreements on maritime boundary delimitation with relevant countries, reviewing and promulgating new or amended legal documents related to seas and islands, especially in light of the Party and State’s implementation of a two-level local government model, further researching and domesticating international treaties on seas and islands to which Vietnam is a signatory, and formulating regulations adjusting specific relations in maritime fields, such as maritime safety, resource exploitation, environmental protection, and marine scientific research and technology transfer. Moreover, the Law on National Defence should incorporate specific provisions on defence activities within Vietnam’s territorial waters to ensure legal consistency and coherence. It is also necessary to expand certain administrative and criminal enforcement powers for designated VCG personnel to meet the practical requirements of law enforcement at sea in the current period. Throughout this legal development process, it is essential to harness the collective intellect of all people and the specialised knowledge of legal scholars and scientists. Simultaneously, favourable conditions should be created to encourage public participation in the law-making process. Drafts should be grounded in the practical needs of grass-roots level and developed in close coordination with relevant ministries and agencies to build a unified, robust, and effective legal framework for maritime governance.

Despite significant efforts of various levels of government, sectors, and forces in recent years to raise public awareness of sea and island issues, the understanding of a number of people has yet to be incomplete, as evidenced by continued legal violations at sea. To address this, in the coming period, the VCG will intensify cooperation with localities and relevant forces (Navy, Border Guard, Fisheries Surveillance, etc.) in formulating and implementing propagation strategies that reflect the evolving situation in the East Sea. This aims to opportunely provide information and orientation for cadres, party members, and citizens on matters of sea and island sovereignty, contributing to building strong “political - spiritual” potential in sea and island areas. To maximise effectiveness, VCG units need to flexibly employ various forms of propagation, such as mass media, thematic seminar and conference, dialogue and exchange, knowledge contest, and program by political - social organisations. For fishermen in particular, the use of leaflets and brochures remains an essential propagation tool. The content must be comprehensive but focalised, particularly in disseminating the Party and State’s resolutions and directives on seas and islands and the protection of maritime national sovereignty. This includes historical evidence, legal grounds, and practical affirmations of Vietnam’s sovereignty over our maritime territories, including Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos, as well as exposing hostile forces’ strategies and tactics and monitoring regional developments in the East Sea. These efforts will foster public awareness, responsibility, unity, and determination in the struggle for protecting our sea and island sovereignty and render fishermen full aware of hostile forces’ plots and artifices. Concurrently, the VCG should continue to effectively implement its programs, such as “VCG accompanies fishermen”, “VCG with ethnic minorities and religious communities”, and the project on holding “I love my Fatherland’s seas and islands” national-level contest approved by the Ministry of National Defence. Supporting activities, including training for fishermen in handling maritime emergencies, donation of national flags and equipment, health check-ups, and provision of free medicine cabinets and first-aid kits, will further enhance military-civilian solidarity and encourage fishermen to confidently operate offshore. In parallel, regular reviews of cooperation mechanisms for awareness campaigns will improve the execution of signed agreements, especially regarding the approaches and responsibilities of each force, reaffirming the role of the VCG and other forces as a solid fulcrum for fishermen at sea. Each force involved in protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction plays a distinct role. Accordingly, the VCG will continuously renovate its cooperation practices, in line with its central responsibility for maritime law enforcement. This includes task-specific collaboration with relevant forces under unified operational plans to build collective strength. In this process, the VCG’s activities form the nucleus around which the actions of other forces, sectors, and agencies are aligned. A key focus is the development and signing of cooperation agreements with functional forces to facilitate legitimate maritime activities. At the same time, it is essential to renovate cooperation content with relevant forces in areas, such as situational assessment, operational planning, professional training, legal education, and capacity building. Additionally, gathering evidence to support diplomatic efforts aimed at protecting the rights and legitimate benefits of Vietnamese organisations and citizens detained by foreign entities remains a high priority. Coordinated actions will continue in patrol, inspection, and rapid response to foreign intrusions into Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty. Collaboration extends to combating maritime crimes, including piracy suppression, pursuit, apprehension, and handover of offenders and vessels. Joint operations also involve protecting offshore oil and gas infrastructures, ensuring maritime communications, and safeguarding Vietnamese fishing activities. The VCG, in close cooperation with the Border Guard, Navy, Fisheries Surveillance, and Public Security forces, will regularly inspect individuals and vessels at sea to enforce laws on fisheries and marine environmental protection. Proactive cooperation will also be maintained with military regions, ministries, and provincial military commands to mobilise personnel, equipment, and civilian vessels in protecting national sovereignty over seas and islands. All activities will adhere strictly to principles and requirements of cooperation, with emphasis placed on improving forecast capacity to develop appropriate response strategies aligned with real-world developments and task requirements. Regular briefings among forces will be conducted to provide opportune updates, exchange operational information, and draw lessons from maritime defence and security management.

To enhance practical capabilities, VCG units will prioritise training programs to equip cadres and soldiers with good command of operational planning, deep understanding of partners and opponents, great awareness of core viewpoints and operational guidelines, and skills to respond effectively to complex maritime scenarios. Training will focus on improving analytical skills and situational assessment to ensure flexible and successful responses and avoid falling into passivity. For shipboard personnel, emphasis will be placed on mastering regulations concerning safe ship manoeuvring, navigational terrain, tidal flows, meteorological and hydrographic conditions, and currents in frequently deployed areas. Operational and legal cadres will receive intensive training in professional skills and legal regulations, in Vietnamese and international laws relating to seas and islands, in statutory regulations for handling violations of maritime laws by organisations and individuals, as well as in maritime patrol, inspection, and control procedures. For technical staff, training will be aimed at on enhancing their expertise and craftsmanship according to their specialities, ensuring they can resolve technical issues and master modern weapons and equipment. Simultaneously, great value will be attached to enhancing the technical and tactical capabilities of VCG vessels, developing plans to firmly protect sea and island sovereignty, and enforcing the law to affirm and safeguard the Fatherland’s maritime sovereignty. Renovation and quality improvement will be promoted in night-time training and extended training at sea under complex weather conditions. Due regard will be paid to improving manoeuvrability and readiness to handle various contingencies, including maritime safety assurance, disaster response, search and rescue operations, routine patrols, and law enforcement activities, by integrating training with both regular and irregular tasks. Additionally, VCG units will conduct well-structured exercises, such as chart-based scenario drills, integrated tactical exercises, and hands-on training aboard newly-built or foreign-transferred vessels. These efforts aim to ensure that troops are proficient at weapons and technical equipment, and capable of responding effectively in all operational environments.

The synchronous and effective implementation of the aforementioned solutions will lay a solid foundation for the VCG to successfully fulfil its assigned tasks and work in close cooperation with other forces to firmly protect national sovereignty, maritime security, and a peaceful environment at sea.

Maj. Gen. TRAN VAN LUONG, MA

Commander of Coast Guard Region 4