Facts requiring Vietnam and China to boost defence cooperation

PANO – The Vietnamese military high-ranking delegation led by Deputy-Defence Minister, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh, on August 30^th paid a visit to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army National Defence University on the occasion of the Vietnam-China Strategic Defence and Security Dialogue.

Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh and Lieutenant-General Liu Yazhou

The Vietnamese delegation took a tour around the University and had talks with leaders of the University led by Political Commissar, Lieutenant-General Liu Yazhou.

On the same day, the visiting Deputy-Defence Minister answered questions from reporters in Beijing.

Reporter: Mr. Deputy-Defence Minister, could you please give some major information about the recent Dialogue?

Lt. Gen. Vinh: This was the fifth Vietnam-China Strategic Defence and Security Dialogue but the second one at the Deputy-Defence Minister level. This not only indicated the increasing confidence and the need for defence cooperation between the two sides in line with the regional situation, but also developed to the corresponding level of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China. As usual, the two sides exchanged regional and international issues related to national defence and security of each nation and/or both, and specific measures to boost the bilateral defence ties.

Between Vietnam and China, there are two major issues that attracted much attention from Chinese and Vietnamese Parties, States, defence forces and people. The first is the ways for the two nations to enhance cooperation in all areas, including defence and security, to match with the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. Secondly, Vietnam and China still have some different viewpoints, particularly the one on the East Sea, which drew more public attention. This issue should not been neglected in the Dialogue, but we chose to express the viewpoints of our Party and State in a moderate manner to preserve friendship and solidarity with China.

Regarding the results of the Dialogue, I do not know if the Chinese side made the same assessments as ours, but for me the dialogue was successful. We had spoken to our Chinese comrades all what we should have spoken, including Vietnam’s asserting its sovereignty over its territory and waters, its independence and its desire to resolve disputes with China via peaceful ways under international laws in an open and transparent manner.

On the other hand, the Chinese sides clearly expressed their principle, according to which differences between the two countries will be resettled with peaceful approaches, on the basics of the two socialist countries, China’s respecting Vietnam’s independence and sovereignty, under international laws and in an open and transparent manner. During the Dialogue, all we spoke were real and true and Chinese comrades also spoke out what they thought. This was successful as it is not easy to speak all in mind. During open and frank exchanges, Chinese comrades attentively listened and recognised our opinions and we did the same.

Once more I must say that the Vietnam-China relations have been recognised and are on the basis of two neighbouring socialist countries, but they should also honour each other’s territorial sovereignty and self-reliance.

Reporter: As a key element in the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership, what has the defence cooperation contributed to the bilateral ties over the past time?

Lt. Gen. Vinh: Defence relations first bring about mutual confidence between the two nations. The more profound the relations are, the more confidence in peace, stability and more cooperation could be achieved. Vietnam and China have traditional defence relations. In the new situations, defence cooperation in various areas, at various levels and in a frequent manner fosters the confidence between the two countries. Secondly, the bilateral defence cooperation with China can also promote our defence relations with other countries and open more opportunities for us to participate in multilateral forums. At his point, we have defence relations with all major powers in the region and the world that have political and economic links with Vietnam. Third, via the bilateral defence cooperation, we send our students to China to train. Now China has made a big move forward in education and training, including defence one.

Reporter: What do you assess the prospect for defence ties between Vietnam and China in the coming time?

Lt. Gen. Vinh: The bilateral defence ties in the coming time will depend much on the bilateral relations between Vietnam and China. As you know, Vietnam and China are enjoying good political relations. We are now longing for big events between the two Parties and States. Second, the bilateral economic relations have, in fact, become better than expected. Particularly, China became a leading economic partner with Vietnam with the two-way trade value of about US$ 30 billion, and it may outpace this year. Under these circumstances, bilateral defence cooperation will increase.

In addition, the bilateral defence cooperation will be fostered by the need to resolve differences and disputes between the two countries. I must once more confirm that there are differences and disputes over the East Sea existing in the relations between Vietnam and China. The bilateral defence relations should ensure that differences cannot become clashes and disputes cannot become hotspots. All of these allow me to believe that the bilateral defence cooperation will and should develop further.      

Reporter: Did the two sides reach agreements in principles on the East Sea issue during the Dialogue?

Lt. Gen. Vinh: In fact, the defence ministries do not have the function to resolve the disputes over the East Sea. This is other ministries’ job. Therefore, the two sides did not discuss principles to deal with the issue.

However, defence organisations should set principles of conduct for the defence area. The use of force and/or threat to use force must be ruled out and I myself spoke to Chinese comrades that the resort to force should not even be thought in disputes over the East Sea. In addition, the defence sector should cooperate to ensure peace and development at sea, support fishermen, protect other peaceful economic activities and comply with international laws. These principles have been reached before and were repeated and discussed at the Dialogue to find specific approaches to implement.

At the Dialogue, we also agreed to boost naval cooperation, joint patrols at sea and exchange visits of naval vessels. Another important aspect of the naval cooperation is to protect fishermen and peaceful economic activities at sea. Naval forces should not behave rudely or badly with fishermen even in the case they are at fault. In these cases, naval forces should have proper behaviour toward them and instruct them on how to follow the laws.

Vietnam and China have good cooperation in the gulf of Tokin and the land borderline to make it a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. So good defence cooperation at sea may ease the situation.

Reporter: Facts show that China has increasingly modernised its military over the past years. Recently, China started the trials of its aircraft carrier and a new generation warplane, the  J-20. What do you think about the issues?

Lt. Gen. Vinh: China’s recent moves have drawn Vietnam’s attention, but we should study China’s military development as it is a regional major power and one of Vietnam’s neighbouring nations. We should distinguish between the development of military capabilities and a rise in military acts. A country has its right to develop its military and a normal build-up of military capabilities does not really impact much on the regional security. But if a country builds an aircraft carrier to operate in sensitive and overlapping seas and hold unusual military manoeuvres, this could spark concerns and security instability in the region.     

Translated by Thu Nguyen