Vietnam resolutely denounces and opposes terrorism in any form and simultaneously protests against any actions in the name of counter-terrorism to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Apart from taking necessary actions to contain and respond to terrorism, Vietnam reinforces the international community’s endeavours and expansion of cooperation to control terrorist actions and support terrorism in any form. Vietnam urges that the counter-terrorist measures and international collaboration in the fight against terrorism must be carried out within the framework of the United Nations, and in adherence with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international laws.
Vietnam supports the settlement of other flashpoints which might break out into armed conflicts in the territory through dialogue, and peaceful negotiations, and without resorting to force or the threat to use force. In 2021, The Ministry of Public Security officially launched the Airborne Security Department, which is responsible for containing and combating terrorist attacks and unlawful interference to ensure aviation security in Vietnam.
According to the ministry’s Department of Homeland Security, Vietnam has not documented any evidence of intentions to execute terrorist acts, especially suicide attacks, by terrorist communities in the country.
Southeast Asia, is emerging as a source of manpower for radical Islamic terrorist organisations. This puts representative organisations of the United States and Western nations on the counterterrorism coalition in Vietnam in danger of being attacked by international terrorist organisations.
Although aviation security has been enhanced, there are potential risks of unlawful interference in civil aviation, it said. There are still instances and dangerous objects which remain hidden during aviation security screenings annually. Vietnam has received a proposal to deploy airborne security forces when opening a direct flight to the US.
After the Government issued Decree No. 922015 on October 13, 2015, on aviation security, the Ministry of Public Security executed the Border Security Department under the General Department of Security (now the Immigration Department) to create a scheme for airborne security forces.
The Immigration Department has corresponded with ministries and agencies to complete the tasks and conveyed them to the ministry for approval in early 2020. The Airborne Security Force would be in control of preventing and combating terrorism, and unlawful interference to ensure flight security of Vietnamese airlines. It would collect, synthesise, investigate, evaluate and predict the situation related to actions that threatened the security and safety of Việt Nam’s civil aviation.
In addition, this force would give guidance and propose to the Immigration Department guidelines and procedures to proactively detect acts of terrorism. It would take responsibility to correspond with the flight crew in handling unlawful interference or unforeseen situations. It would be allowed to operate weapons or technical means to neutralise illegal actions of interference against the aircraft according to the requirements of law. It would also conform with airlines and functional forces at home and abroad to unravel problems related to security on aircraft.
In special cases, the Airborne Security Force would need the Immigration Department to suspend flights when there were cases of terrorist attacks or unlawful interference. This force would correspond with the Ministry of Public Security and the aviation industry to accompany people who were extradited or serving jail sentences from abroad to Vietnam and vice versa, expulsed foreigners, Vietnamese exiled people or those wanted by Interpol.
