This text was initially printed by Pacific Discussion board. It’s republished with permission.
Vietnam’s maritime safety is formed by its geographic place, strategic pursuits, and the urgent must safeguard its territorial waters. The South China Sea (recognized in Vietnam because the East Sea) serves as a vital route for worldwide commerce. It is usually marked by intricate territorial disputes, highlighting the significance of Vietnam’s naval and coast guard forces.
China’s rising fleet of unmanned air, floor, and underwater techniques poses a critical safety menace to Hanoi. In August 2024, a Chinese language WZ-10 drone entered Vietnam’s airspace 160 to 170 kilometers from Cam Ranh, an important naval base. The Chinese language have raised the temperature within the South China Sea by utilizing unmanned underwater autos (UUVs), gliders and Argo floats, that are dual-use.
This has prompted Vietnam to hunt measures to reinforce its monitoring, patrolling, and response capabilities with out overcommitting its restricted standard forces. A key alternative to bolster these efforts is integrating unmanned techniques into Vietnam’s protection arsenal.
Given the present capability shortfalls, Quadrilateral Safety Dialogue (“Quad”) nations, which have a plan to assist capacity-building for regional navies in Southeast Asia, are well-positioned to reinforce Vietnam’s capabilities on this space.
The Vietnamese Folks’s Military (VPA) has intensive expertise working UAVs to enhance its maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. These UAVs are both domestically developed with overseas help or imported from overseas. Vietnam additionally showcased its bigger class of UAVs, conceivably a medium-altitude long-endurance system, throughout its first worldwide protection expo in 2022.
Nevertheless, Vietnam’s deal with unmanned maritime autos, each floor and underwater, continues to be in a nascent stage. As tensions within the maritime area with China escalate, the VPA seeks superior unmanned floor autos (USVs) and UUVs to bolster its maritime safety and shield vital maritime infrastructure within the Vietnamese EEZs. These techniques not solely are cost-effective however in addition they play a vital function in ISR capabilities.
The Quad is now extra strategically aligned and is acknowledged as a invaluable platform for fostering regional cooperation that goals to reinforce peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific. The September 2024 Quad joint assertion explicitly highlights the significance of strengthening maritime safety capabilities of Southeast Asian nations. Vietnam, given its strong ties with the Quad nations, has a lot to realize from partnering with the Quad, significantly in bettering its technological and operational prowess in maritime safety.
The Quad nations have experience in creating and working unmanned maritime techniques. Sharing technological data or co-developing specialised techniques tailor-made to Vietnam’s necessities would considerably assist its ISR capabilities. Specifically, India and Vietnam preserve shut protection ties, on condition that each use Soviet weapon techniques.
Throughout Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s state go to to India in August 2024, each nations reiterated their dedication to strengthening mutual relations. India has offered a $300 million mortgage to Hanoi for buying two forms of patrol vessels. As well as, the US has provided the Vietnam Coast Guard with 18 “Steel Shark” patrol boats, whereas Japan is providing a $348 million mortgage to Hanoi for setting up six patrol boats, set to be operational by 2025.
There’s potential for industrial collaboration, which might result in a three way partnership in setting up UUVs or USVs that will be advantageous for each nations. Protection trade cooperation to develop unmanned maritime techniques presents a major alternative for the Quad nations to collaborate with Hanoi. This may embody constructing or upgrading command-and-control infrastructure to make sure seamless operation and coordination.
Moreover, supporting Vietnam in constructing a home unmanned maritime techniques trade, probably by way of know-how transfers and specialised human useful resource coaching, might foster better autonomy and functionality in Vietnam’s protection sector.
Whereas the potential advantages of unmanned techniques are clear, they don’t seem to be with out challenges. Vietnam’s method to safety partnerships is rigorously balanced to keep away from over-reliance on anyone companion. Vietnam goals to interact with the Quad, making certain its non-alignment coverage stays intact whereas maximizing cooperation advantages.
Though unmanned techniques are more cost effective than manned alternate options, buying and sustaining these nonetheless entails important funding. Vietnam could must discover financing choices with the help of Quad nations. Further challenges embody the absence of a complete authorized and regulatory framework for unmanned techniques growth and deployment in Vietnam. The collaboration in unmanned maritime techniques could signify a major development for Vietnam and the Quad.
In conclusion, Vietnam’s maritime safety is a linchpin for regional stability and financial prosperity. As maritime threats develop extra subtle, integrating unmanned maritime techniques into its technique will present a vital edge for VPA. With its collective technological experience and strategic curiosity in a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Quad can play a pivotal function. By specializing in know-how switch, coaching, infrastructure assist, and joint workouts, the Quad will help construct Vietnam’s capability to guard its waters.
Whereas Vietnam maintains a non-aligned stance, its advocacy for a rule-based order and its reliance on worldwide legislation to safeguard its maritime pursuits make it a pure companion for the Quad. Strengthening Vietnam’s maritime capabilities will subsequently tremendously improve regional safety and in addition underscore the Quad’s dedication to safeguarding the shared pursuits of Southeast Asian nations.
Prakash Panneerselvam, PhD, (prakash.p@nias.res.in) is a Japan Basis Indo-Pacific Partnership (JFIPP) analysis fellow and an assistant professor on the Nationwide Institute of Superior Research (NIAS), Bengaluru.
Van T. Pham, Dr.rer.nat, (phamtvan2014@gmail.com) is founding director of the South China Sea Chronicle Initiative in Vietnam.
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Sourcing information and pictures from asiatimes.com
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