Vietnam is adopting and implementing a “Three Nos” principle for its security. The “Three Nos” principle basically implies non-alignment defense policy, and more specifically, the principle is composed of three pillars: no alliance, no foreign base in Vietnam, and no third party’s intervention in bilateral conflicts. The “Three Nos” was first formalized in Vice-Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh’s remarks during his visit to China in August 2010, when Vietnam embarked on strengthening security ties with the United States against the backdrop of emerging tensions between Vietnam and China in the South China Sea. However, the “Three Nos” principle has its historical origin since the end of the Cold War, and is also originated in the country’s geostrategic features and historical lessons during the Cold War era. As other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam aims at pursing hedging strategy, too.

For applying the “Three Nos” principle, Vietnam had implemented a “multidimensional military diplomacy,” which pursues stable and cooperative security relationships with all major players in regional security, including the United States, Japan, India, Russia, and China. Vietnam had highly estimated its “successful” efforts to establish a cooperative and stable relationship with China, exemplified in the agreement of basic principles in resolving maritime issues during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in October 2011. Nevertheless, its confidence was lost in the 2014 oil-rig incident in the South China Sea, where Vietnam severely confronted against China. The incident made Vietnam recognize that its efforts to establish a cooperative security relationship with China was not always effective for dealing with territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

After the oil-rig incident, Vietnam shifted toward a more reinforced “multidimensional military diplomacy.” Vietnam has further strengthened cooperative ties with the United States by General Secretary’s first visit to the United States in July 2015 and first accepting US Navy warships to Cam Ranh Bay. Vietnam also has attempted to reinforce ties with other external partners like Japan and India. Interestingly, Vietnam continues to try to keep cordial and cooperative security ties with China by various activities including accepting Chinese warships to Cam Ranh Bay. The “Three Nos” principle is one of the most effective and efficient measures for Vietnam’s security in such an uncertain strategic environment.