http://www.solidnet.org/article/CP-of-V ... gn-policy/
Why doesn’t Vietnam “take sides” in its foreign policy?
NGUYEN THI HOA
Communist Review
Communist Review - Amid significant global upheavals relating to competition among world powers, particularly the conflict in Ukraine, the issue of "taking sides," alliance, and alignment in international relations has strongly re-emerged. Decisions on whether to take sides or not can result in disturbances and confusion which can potentially be exploited to cause divisions in society, leading to political and social instability. In this context, the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese State have asserted that they do not "take sides." Instead, they choose justice, fairness, and righteousness based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter.
“Taking sides” or choosing national interests?
History of international relations demonstrates that profound conflicts and differences in interests always exist among major countries, especially between pairs of great power relationships. When world powers engage in confrontations, form alliances, and compete for influence, it often leads to significant repercussions, forcing medium and small countries to the risk of having to "take sides."
In the third decade of the 21st century, especially during the current period of profound geopolitical changes, competition between major countries and strategic policy adjustments have become markedly different from previous eras and contain many unpredictable factors. The fact that world powers seek to pursue various visions of regional architecture, promote the gathering of forces, increase influence through regional initiatives, form trilateral and quadrilateral alliances, and wield "soft power" to garner support through a wide range of channels such as economics, investment, trade, technology transfer, and aid, places medium and small countries on the threshold of having to "take sides." How to maintain an independent and self-reliant policy and not to lean towards any side, while ensuring national interests, has become a complicated dilemma for many countries.
Moreover, in contemporary international relations, countries simultaneously cooperate and compete with each other, acting as both partners and rivals. Interaction and interdependence between countries have created a complex and overlapping network, making it increasingly challenging for them to maintain independence and self-reliance and avoid "taking sides." Differing opinions on which "side" to take can lead to societal distractions and are often exploited to serve political purposes, resulting in social division and instability.
Furthermore, taking sides does not necessarily mean national sovereignty and interests are protected, as world powers often let their ambitions extend beyond international law as well as prioritizing their own interests when dealing with allies. Even when their interests converge on certain points or aspects, world powers are still willing to bargain at the expense of smaller countries.
When a country "takes sides" without fully understanding or foreseeing the strategic calculations of world powers, said country will definitely face new divisions, which could potentially lead to a disaster. If a country takes sides and joins an alliance, what is the cost? Can national security, sovereignty, and national interests be guaranteed by promises and commitments? Will relying on a country, be it a "developed nation" or "great power," ensure independence, self-reliance, and national interests or will it only exacerbate tensions and complications? Experience shows that when a country is unable to maintain its independence and self-reliance and has to seek support or intervention from external forces, it will be entangled in the strategic calculations of major powers. And that country may fall into the chaos of proxy wars.
Therefore, smaller countries should maximize their spirit of independence and self-reliance, remaining steadfast in their stances while being prudent and flexible in their struggle for national interests while avoiding conflict and confrontation. They also need to consider their developmental space and avoid putting themselves in a disadvantageous position amid uncertainties in international relations and the changing global power structure.
Most regional countries now advocate balanced relations to prevent disagreements, disadvantages, and risks from escalating into all-out confrontations or conflicts, while maximizing cooperation and optimizing security and development benefits. Most ASEAN countries adopt the stance of not "taking sides" in response to competition between world powers. This is a vital issue for these countries because "taking sides" could lead to new divisions and fragmentation in the region, making it a "stage for geopolitical disputes." A flexible policy to avoid conflicts and confrontations is regarded as the best choice to optimize national interests, protect national sovereignty, maintain strategic self-reliance, and demonstrate the aspiration for a resilient, neutral, peaceful, and stable ASEAN, reinforcing its "central role" amid increasing strategic influences from great powers.
Taking sides at the apex of major power rivalry is akin to "adding fuel to the fire," which will further escalate tensions between opposing parties, exacerbate conflicts between alliances, and ultimately harm the interests of the countries involved. Therefore, Vietnam believes that advocating for "taking sides" in international relations in general, and for Vietnam in particular, is illusory, unrealistic, and unfounded. National interest is the appropriate, immutable, and sustainable choice.
Vietnam, like many countries in the region, fully understands this principle. William Chong, a senior fellow at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute based in Singapore, highlighted Vietnam's foreign policy in his article "Feisty and delicate: Vietnam's approach to handling great power rivalry," published on ThinkChina on May 10, 2021. He wrote, "If agency in this context is defined as the ability to maximize benefits from both powers while adopting hedging strategies to keep them at arm's length, Vietnam is a classic showcase of that art, which can be useful for other Southeast Asian nations to replicate."
The ASEAN flag is hoisted in Hanoi to mark ASEAN’s 56th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967 - August 8, 2023) and the 28th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership (July 28, 1995 - July 28, 2023) _Source: qdnd.vn
Vietnam chooses justice, righteousness, peace, and development instead of "choosing sides”
First, during its revolutionary history and the current cause of national construction and defense, Vietnam has persisted with the policy of not "taking sides."
It is obvious that the Communist Party of Vietnam has been pursuing a consistent and unwavering foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development; diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; and ensuring the highest national interests based on the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law. This policy is “steadfast in objectives and flexible in actions,” without dependence on any other nation.
This independent and self-reliant foreign policy is deeply rooted in Vietnam’s history, reflecting the resilient spirit of a small nation standing against powerful foreign invaders. The spirit of independence and self-reliance was mirrored in the early documents of the Party during the general uprising to seize power, encapsulated in the resolve to "use our own strength to liberate ourselves." President Ho Chi Minh once said, "Independence means we manage our own affairs without external interference."(1) This philosophy of independence and self-reliance has become a consistent guideline shaping Vietnam's foreign affairs. It was brought into full play during the revolutionary struggle, contributing to the ultimate victory of the Vietnamese people's resistance wars. With the great 1975 Spring Victory, Vietnam's independent and self-reliant diplomacy reached its pinnacle, ushering in a new era of renewal and national construction and defense.
Throughout history, Vietnam has protected its national interests by steadfastly pursuing the goals and principles of independence and self-reliance. Despite domestic, regional, and global turbulences in the late 1980s, especially the crisis faced by socialism and waning faith in the future of socialism around the world, Vietnam resolutely persisted with the path chosen by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. By reassessing the global situation to determine an appropriate foreign policy in the new context, Vietnam has successfully maintained its independence and self-reliance and advanced forward.
During the renewal period, Vietnam has creatively applied the principles of independence and self-reliance to implement a policy of multilateralization and diversification in its foreign relations, avoiding dependence on any major country or group of countries. This foreign policy has been supplemented and refined through various Party Congresses, from "Vietnam wants to be a friend" and "Vietnam is ready to be a friend," to present day "Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community." This is a consistent, principled, and vital issue for Vietnam's renewal process.
Throughout the history of revolutionary struggle, as well as in the current cause of national construction and defense, Vietnam has always upheld the spirit of independence and self-reliance, not joining any military alliances with great powers, and not taking sides. Vietnam has been pursuing a consistent stance of independence, self-reliance, and self-resilience while promoting internal strength, garnering support from international friends, and implementing a foreign policy of peace, self-defense, justice, humanity, and humanitarianism to firmly protect national independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and interests. National sovereignty and interests are sacred, supreme, and inviolable. This is an immutable, core, and fundamental issue, which cannot be exchanged nor compromised. No other countries are allowed to manipulate or determine Vietnam’s destiny. This approach has been reflected in the Party’s unswerving principle of "Ensuring the highest national interests based on the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, international law, equality, cooperation, and mutual benefit."
In its revolutionary history, Vietnam once found itself caught between the calculations of great powers, but managed to overcome perilous challenges and preserve its revolutionary achievements. While the current competition between great powers threatens to divide the world and has complex, multifaceted impacts on international relations, Vietnam remains steadfast in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and not taking sides. Few countries have as many comprehensive strategic partnerships with as many world powers as does Vietnam.(2) Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 192 out of 193 United Nations member states and is an active, responsible member of over 70 important international organizations and forums. Vietnam has intertwined and aligned its interests with many countries in economy, politics, defense, and security. Its relationships with other countries, especially great powers, are increasingly extensive and stable. Vietnam proactively promotes and deepens relations with its partners and pursues comprehensive and extensive international integration. Amidst unpredictable developments worldwide, Vietnam has upheld its role as an active and responsible member of the international community, becoming an increasingly important actor in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. The historically significant achievements over nearly 40 years of renewal are a testament to Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-resilience, and peace, which combines national strength with the strength of the era.
Second, Vietnam chooses justice, righteousness, peace, and development.
The international landscape is experiencing complex and unpredictable developments. The great power rivalry in the region and around the world is becoming increasingly intense, spanning various fields and multiple forms, and with expanding scope, sometimes resembling a cold war. Great powers both struggle and compromise, which relates to the gathering of forces, new strategic "initiatives," and treaties which are then followed by the establishment of new alliances. In this situation, countries are sometimes forced to clarify their positions, whether to participate or not, and how to participate to maximize their national interests. As global polarization appears more visible, Vietnam, an ASEAN member with geopolitical and geo-economic significance in the region, is capturing the attention of great powers. This context requires Vietnam to determine principles, interests, and behavior towards other countries on the basis of mutual benefits, and to choose strategies that best serve its national interests and conform with international law.
In international relations, cooperation and struggle are parallel. In relations with partners and objects of struggle, cooperation and struggle are intertwined. With this in mind, Vietnam can seize opportunities for cooperation and identify differences in interests to find appropriate solutions. In an increasingly "flat" international environment, where interactions and interdependence between countries grow across the board, Vietnam advocates the enhancement of its foreign relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Regarding disagreements, especially in relations with powerful countries and/or neighboring countries, Vietnam seeks to handle them skillfully, avoiding confrontation and situations where it has no other choice but to "take sides." At the same time, Vietnam remains steadfast in its principles while engaging in dialogue and cooperation to address differences and disagreements to harmonize interests between involved parties and maximize its national interests, with a strategic vision of serving national security, peace, and development. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong reiterated this stance in his speech at the National Military-Political Conference on December 20, 2022, by emphasizing the need to "Promptly identify and appropriately, harmoniously, and flexibly deal with defense partners and objects of struggle, avoid falling into the passive or being taken by surprise in all situations, prevent the risk of conflict and confrontation, avoid isolation and dependence, and not 'take sides'."(3)
Current regional and global turbulences, as well as great power rivalries which at times have escalated into confrontation, are placing mankind at a level of unpredictable danger. "The multipolar and multicentric global landscape and strategic competition between powerful states will become more intense, with the risk of conflict and confrontation posing significant challenges for developing countries, particularly those with a highly open economy and limited resilience and competitiveness, like our country."(4). In this context, Vietnam has consistently pursued the “Four nos” policy: no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no hosting foreign military bases or using Vietnamese territory to oppose other countries, and no using force or threatening to use force in international relations, to safeguard the Homeland early and from afar. This is the correct policy and the best strategy to maintain peace and the socialist regime.
In its foreign relations, Vietnam has fully tapped the strength of "Bamboo Diplomacy," which is soft and skillful, flexible and creative, yet bold, tenacious and unyielding, as directed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 29th Diplomatic Conference in 2016 and the National Foreign Relations Conference in 2021, contributing to maintaining independence, self-reliance, territorial integrity, and national interests at any time and in any circumstances. Firm yet unbreakable, multilateral yet independent, "Vietnam's Bamboo Diplomacy” is flexible, skillful, and adaptable in relations with each country, but is persistent and resolute in pursuing the principle of “equality; respect for sovereignty, legitimate rights and interests; and resolving disagreements in the spirit of friendship, strictly abiding by the UN Charter and conforming with international law and norms.” This approach not only navigates Vietnam through the dilemma of great power rivalry but also creates a network of intertwined interests, where its national interests are integrated with the interests of regional and global organizations, helping to protect and secure the country’s national interests.
Upholding the tradition of cherishing peaceful national defense, peace, and friendship, while respecting justice and righteousness, Vietnam, as an active and responsible member of the international community, has diligently fulfilled its obligations, has taken on many important international responsibilities, and has actively cooperated with other nations in addressing emerging security issues, contributing to the international community’s efforts toward sustainable peace.
Therefore, the notion of “taking sides” is completely unhelpful for the Vietnamese nation to protect its independence, self-reliance, and legitimate national interests. Vietnam does not “choose sides” but chooses righteousness and justice. In his speech at the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on May 12, 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly stated, “In a world full of turbulence, strategic competition and a great many choices, Vietnam picks no side. Instead it chooses justice, fairness and goodness, based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter. It chooses equality, shared benefits for all, and win-win for all.” Choosing justice means consistently pursuing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development. Choosing righteousness means choosing peace and the prosperous development of the world.
Vietnam chooses peace because it endured prolonged wars of resistance against foreign invaders, with generations of Vietnamese sacrificing their lives to achieve and maintain national independence, freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. In Vietnam's revolutionary history, the aspiration for peace means the aspiration for national independence and socialism, which has now expanded to prosperity, happiness, and self-resilience.
Vietnam chooses development and cooperation because it is a rational choice for the goal of “wealthy people and a strong, democratic, equitable, and civilized country” in line with the common trend of all nations around the world. The 13th National Party Congress set goals for Vietnam to become a developing country with modern-oriented industries, having graduated from lower-middle income by 2025; a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030; and a developed, high-income country by 2045. Vietnam’s aspiration for development goes hand in hand with the aspiration for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
This choice aligns with Vietnam's national interests. Only a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-resilience, diversification and multilateralization of external relations and combining national strength with the strength of the era can guarantee national interests and make Vietnam a powerful, prosperous, and happy country.
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(1) Ho Chi Minh’s Complete Works: NationalPolitical Publishing House, Hanoi, 2000, Vol. 5, p. 136
(2) Vietnam has established a comprehensive strategic partnership with five countries: China (2008), Russia (2012), India (2016), the Republic of Korea (2022), and the US (2023).
(3) Nguyen Phu Trong: Some issues on military guidelines and national defense strategy in the cause of building and safeguarding the socialist Homeland of Vietnam in the new period, NationalPolitical Publishing House, Hanoi, 2023, p. 177
(4) Party General Secretary’s speech at the closing ceremony of the 8th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, https://vtv.vn/chinh-tri/phat-bieu-cua- ... 333305.htm
Source: Communist Review No. 1025 (November, 2023)
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