In recent years, taking advantage of the rapid development of the Internet and social media platforms, hostile and reactionary forces have fully exploited these tools to spread false and distorted narratives about the situation in the South China Sea and Vietnam's maritime sovereignty. These actions have caused instability in national security and political order, disrupted social safety, and pursued a scheme of "peaceful evolution" against Viet Nam.
In recent years, taking advantage of the rapid development of the Internet and social media platforms, hostile and reactionary forces have fully exploited these tools to spread false and distorted narratives about the situation in the South China Sea and Vietnam's maritime sovereignty. These actions have caused instability in national security and political order, disrupted social safety, and pursued a scheme of "peaceful evolution" against Viet Nam.
Photo(s) for illustration
False and Distorted Views on Vietnam's Maritime Sovereignty in Cyberspace
First, distorting the view that Vietnam is weak and indifferent to issues related to the South China Sea.
Hostile and reactionary forces take advantage of events such as: the cutting of cables of Vietnam's Viking 02 and Binh Minh 02 vessels in 2011 and 2012; the 2014 Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 violating Vietnam's maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea; the increasing involvement of the U.S. and its allies in the South China Sea issue; the environmental disaster caused by Formosa in central Vietnam; foreign countries strengthening their military presence and implementing measures to control and realize illegal claims in the South China Sea; the complex situation of crime and law violations at sea; foreign vessels continuing to control, intercept, expel, and seize seafood and fishing equipment from Vietnamese fishing boats operating normally in the Paracel Islands, and the maritime area between Vietnam and Indonesia; the situation where Vietnamese fishermen are caught by foreign maritime authorities for illegally fishing in other countries' waters… These events are manipulated to spread distorted views about the South China Sea situation and Vietnam's efforts to protect its maritime sovereignty. These actions aim to confuse public opinion, mislead the public, create a "smokescreen," and undermine trust in the government. The reactionaries use provocative slogans to incite those who are gullible, immature, or discontented to participate in protests and create disturbances in order to sow division and instability in the country, complicate international relations between Vietnam and China, and its neighbors in the region. More deeply, their goal is to incite violent protests to overthrow the government.
Second, distorting the issue while “advising” Vietnam to “resist China, embrace the U.S.” to cause political instability and division both domestically and internationally, harming national and ethnic interests.
They take advantage of the U.S. State Department's rejection of most of China's maritime claims to rehash their tactics and distorted narratives about Vietnam's policies and strategies. They promote the idea of "resisting China, embracing the U.S." to destabilize the domestic and international unity, which harms Vietnam's national interests. They also spread articles, comments, and interviews from "experts" abroad, with main points criticizing Vietnam's national defense policy of "three no's" (no alliances, no foreign military bases, no participation in conflicts) and "four no's" (no foreign military presence, no foreign forces on Vietnamese soil, no participation in conflicts, no use of force in the South China Sea). These forces argue that such policies "tie Vietnam's hands" because Vietnam’s economic, defense, and security capacities are too weak to sustain them. Therefore, they claim that the only "bright future" for Vietnam is to align with the U.S. to "maintain maritime sovereignty and protect national interests."
Third, exploiting the South China Sea issue and maritime sovereignty to distort and link it to other political matters, such as personnel issues at the Communist Party Congress or alleged "treasonous agreements."
They fabricate stories on social media platforms like YouTube, claiming that some leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State are "silent" or have "compromised" with foreign powers in exchange for high positions in the Party. They attempt to provoke the people to "speak out," "participate in protests," or "boycott China."
Fourth, optimizing and diversifying methods of propaganda and reactionary distortion in cyberspace.
Along with intensifying distorted and subversive content on foreign media outlets that have long spread biased news about Vietnam, such as BBC, RFA, VOA, RFI, and reactionary exile organizations like “Việt Tân,” “Provisional Government of Vietnam,” “Vietnamese Royal Dynasty,” “Democratic and Pluralist Gathering,” as well as domestic fake groups such as “Lập Quyền Dân,” “Civil Society Forum,” and “National Gathering of Vietnam,” these forces continue to maintain and develop websites, and increase the distribution of fabricated information, misleading commentary, and edited images to distort the South China Sea issue and Vietnam's maritime sovereignty. These anti-Vietnam voices are further amplified by social media accounts that act as "effective allies" in spreading subversive propaganda, law violations, and attacks on Vietnam’s legal framework.
Many reactionary websites that oppose Vietnam are financially well-supported, equipped with server systems, technical teams, and expert security personnel. Therefore, their task is to relentlessly spread and disseminate distorted “materials” about the situation in the South China Sea; their familiar tactic is to exploit and take advantage of “hot spots” in the South China Sea to “recycle” misleading and fabricated narratives about the Party and State's stance on the protection of maritime sovereignty.
Fifth, through social media, hostile and reactionary forces have sought to connect, conspire with, and recruit corrupt and degenerate officials and Party members; to manipulate, bribe, and form opposition groups from within the country.
The targets of their propaganda and distortion campaigns are various segments of the population, but the main focus is on the youth, aiming to create an opposition force against the Party and State. Under the guise of “fighting to protect maritime sovereignty,” “patriotism,” and other deceptive banners, foreign forces have coordinated with some individuals within the country to form and develop what they call a “civil society” along with illegal organizations and groups. These external forces provide financial support for activities, while domestic agents actively gather intelligence and provide information to be used in the anti-Vietnam propaganda campaigns. Moreover, they attempt to approach and bribe corrupt or degenerate officials and Party members working in sensitive, classified areas to provide secret national documents and information to be used against Vietnam.
ARGUMENTS IN THE STRUGGLE TO REFUTE DISTORTED AND MISLEADING VIEWS IN CYBERSPACE
Protecting national sovereignty and the people is a long-term struggle
Firstly, the reality has proven that, in the process of building and developing the country, protecting national sovereignty, including sovereignty over the seas, is a key and ongoing task of our Party and State. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent country, with sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, including the land, islands, seas, and airspace. “Any acts against independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as against the cause of building and protecting the homeland, shall be strictly punished.”
Therefore, it must be affirmed that Vietnam regularly speaks out or condemns the illegal activities of China and other countries in the region in the South China Sea; it publicly and widely opposes these activities, mobilizing international public opinion and support from other countries; and strengthens exchanges and positive bilateral dialogues. In some cases, Vietnam has sent diplomatic notes protesting and clearly expressed its consistent stance.
Consistently, Vietnam’s approach is: “All activities at sea should be carried out on the basis of UNCLOS 1982, respecting the sovereignty, rights of sovereignty, and jurisdiction of coastal states in maritime zones established under the Convention. Vietnam hopes that all countries will make efforts to contribute to the common goals and aspirations of the region and the international community, to maintain peace, stability, security, and the rule of law in the South China Sea.”
Secondly, Vietnam is continuously perfecting its policies and laws on managing, implementing, and protecting maritime sovereignty.
Recognizing the strategic importance and location of its maritime territory, our Party and State have adopted many sound and consistent policies on the seas and islands. With the adoption of Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW (the 10th Party Congress) on February 9, 2007, on the "Vietnam Maritime Strategy until 2020," we first established a comprehensive maritime strategy with a broad vision covering economic, social, national defense, security, foreign affairs, international cooperation, and environmental aspects. At the same time, the State has issued a series of legal documents to institutionalize the Party's policies on managing and protecting maritime sovereignty, such as the 1991 Maritime Law, the 1991 Civil Aviation Law, the 1993 Petroleum Law, the 1997 Border Guard Law, the 1998 Vietnam Coast Guard Law, the 2012 Vietnam Maritime Law, and the 2015 Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment.
In particular, at the 8th Plenary Session of the 12th Party Central Committee, Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW was adopted on the "Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy by 2030, Vision to 2045." This resolution identifies broad objectives, such as making Vietnam a maritime power, meeting key sustainable marine economic development criteria, forming a marine ecological culture, proactively adapting to climate change and rising sea levels, combating marine pollution and environmental degradation, restoring and conserving vital marine ecosystems, and actively participating in resolving international and regional ocean and sea issues.
Thirdly, Vietnam is fully aware that to protect national sovereignty today, it must remain self-reliant, independent, and self-strengthening, guided by the principle "be unchanging in principle but adaptable in practice." Vietnam combines national strength with the strength of the times, based on international law, and cannot solely rely on military alliances with a major power.
The 2019 Vietnam Defense White Paper clearly states the policy: “Vietnam does not join military alliances, does not align with one country to counter another, does not allow foreign military bases or use of its territory to fight against other countries, and does not use or threaten to use force in international relations.”
Our Party also affirms: "We are determined and persistent in the struggle to firmly protect independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, including the seas, islands, and airspace; we will preserve a peaceful and stable environment for national development." Accordingly, it is necessary to fully mobilize the combined strength of the entire nation, the political system, and the strength of the times, while maximizing international support to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the homeland, safeguard the Party, State, people, socialist regime, culture, and national interests. We must defend the homeland early, from afar, and ensure the country is protected even before danger arises.
Viet Nam’s consistent and steadfast stance is to firmly protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate interests in the South China Sea while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development and strengthening friendly, cooperative relations with China, ASEAN, and other countries.
Fourthly, In the new phase, the Party, State, and the entire political system are continually adjusting, enhancing, and supplementing more effective and appropriate measures to firmly protect national sovereignty at sea and eliminate harmful and subversive information. Information and propaganda forces are considered one of the key tools, along with other branches, to maintain political stability and ensure national security.
Therefore, it is essential to continue to strengthen information and propaganda work, focusing more on external information activities, based on the following principles:
1. Continue to enhance the Party’s leadership in the struggle to protect maritime sovereignty.
2. Increase political and ideological education to raise awareness and responsibility for protecting maritime sovereignty for both the political system and society, ensuring transparency of policies, and providing accurate and specific information on Vietnam's maritime situation.
3. Promote the role of the media and internet in the fight to protect the country’s maritime sovereignty, enhance cybersecurity, and apply technical solutions to strengthen scanning and blocking harmful information about the South China Sea and Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty.
**Dr. NGUYEN THI THU HA**
Training Management Department, Academy of Politics Region I
**M.A. NGUYEN THI NGA**
Central Propaganda Department
Source: tuyengiao.vn
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- The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, National Political Publishing House, Truth, Hanoi, 2014, pp. 8, 13.