Vietnam, a good model for development, defense, diplomacy and geopolitical strategy. Roilo Golez

"Compared to the Philippines, Vietnam is smaller in population (95 million), smaller in economy (around $200 billion compared to our $290 billion), yet Vietnam has a strong military and coast guard, balanced with impressive infrastructures and robust economy and industry. 

"And very important, the Vietnamese can stand up to China, ready to fight for their territory and EEZ, and at the same time balance relations between China and US and Japan and have moved on from war with US, not allowing such bloody past to encumber their relations with the US in pursuit of national security. 

"Their defense is focused on the immediate and long term threat which is China because of China's overreaching territorial goal, a grave external security threat  that the Philippines likewise faces with China claiming and grabbing and seizing our seas and EEZ. We should study how Vietnam achieves balance in its pursuit of good diplomacy, economic development and national security."

Vietnam, a good model for development, defense, diplomacy and geopolitical strategy

Roilo Golez

National Security Adviser (2001-2004)

Philippines

To me, and I have been saying this for a long time, Vietnam is the best model for balance development and foreign and defense policy. 

Vietnam has a strong Air Force and Navy, a very strong Army and militia, yet at the same time they have good infrastructures, vibrant economy, attracts more FDI compared to ours, strong agriculture and industry, steadfastly stands up against China and at the same time maintains good diplomatic relations with China. 

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Vietnam has somehow achieved the balance between “guns and butter.” 

The Philippines and Vietnam are in a very similar geopolitical situation. Theirs may even be more challenging because of proximity to China. 

Both the Philippines and Vietnam are confronted by China’s over aggressive territorial claims where China’s nine dash line claims almost 90% of the two countries’ exclusive economic zone. Both have lost territory to China: Vietnam lost the Paracels in 1974; China stole Mischief Reef in 1994-95 and Scarborough Shoal in 2012. 

The Philippine population is around 103 million while that of Vietnam is 95 million. Philippine GDP is around $290 Billion and per capita GDP is $2,600 while GDP of Vietnam is around $200 billion and per capita of $1,600.

Vietnam is perceived as a militarily powerful nation which has invested its resources into defense capability perhaps to the prejudice of economic development.

As a starter, look at their international airport, a country’s show window of progress.

Hanoi International Airport

Vietnam’s airport is much better than ours. Take a look at their modern airport. Vietnam is able to have both good defense assets like warships and fighter planes and a world class airport, and at the same time have a vibrant economy. That's balance that the Philippines should aspire for!

Modern Bridge 8.3 kilometers long

And look at this awesome bridge I saw driving from the Hanoi airport to the center of the city. It's an 8.3 kilometer bridge funded by Japan which is not claiming and occupying a part of our exclusive economic zone, not like China which may be giving us loans but claiming 90% of our West Philippine Sea which makes China's "gifts" and "friendship" very suspicious.

Highway system

Another example of their modern and massive infrastructure is the 1,200 kilometer Ho Chi Minh North-South Highway.

Modern Coast Guard to protect their EEZ

And here are examples of the Vietnam Coast Guard ships. These are more modern than anything the Philippine Coast Guard has. And the Vietnamese Coast Guard has experience in physically confronting the Chinese Coast Guard especially when China attempted to deploy a giant oil rig in Vietnam's EEZ in 2014. 

Vietnam Navy

Records show that after reunification in 1976, Vietnam remained impoverished and weak, but strong in fighting spirit, until economic reforms were instituted in 1986. 

Frigates

On their naval assets, it was only in 1988 after they lost a bloody naval encounter vs. the Chin Navy near Johnson Reef that Vietnam decided to modernize their navy with the purchase of two Gepard Class frigates from Russia. Acquisition cost was $350 Million for the two ships.

Submarines

Vietnam also acquired six Kilo Class Submarines from Russia. Acquisition cost is around $3.2 Billion. Naval strategists believe that Vietnam,'s submarine fleet will become the nightmare of the Chinese Navy (PLAN) in the South China Sea (http://nationalinterest.org/feature/chinas-nightmare-vietnams-new-killer-submarines-12505).

Air Force

Vietnam has 37 Sukhoi-27 fighters and six Sukhoi-30 on order.

Missiles

Vietnam also has a deadly array of missile systems that include the Russian KLUB and S-300.

Economic and Industrial Strength

Vietnam garments sector. Made in Vietnam garments are visible in world market, even here in the Philippines. That's balance.

Industrial zone in Vietnam. 

We are still ahead but Vietnam is surging because of good balanced national strategy. That's what we need. We need to balance economy, defense, infrastructure, diplomacy, fighting spirit and readiness to stand up for our territory.

Compared to the Philippines, Vietnam is smaller in population (95 million), smaller in economy (around $200 billion compared to our $290 billion), yet Vietnam has a strong military and coast guard, balanced with impressive infrastructures and robust economy and industry.

Vietnam's strong export!

Do you know that Vietnam's exports ($169 billion) are much bigger than Philippine exports ($56 billion)? 

Another lesson we can learn from Vietnam is in the pursuit of economic growth. Move on from the past! Vietnam has moved on from their ten-year war with America which happened from the mid 60s to 1975 so America is now their no. 1 export market. Let's not talk anymore about the Philippine American War and focus on the present.

Here's Vietnam's export profile: "The United States continued to be Vietnam's largest export market, with US$28.5 billion. The EU is second with US$27.9 billion, ASEAN is third, China is fourth and Japan is the fifth largest export market of Vietnam." Repeat, US and EU are Vietnam's top export destinations. Vietnam's 2016 Exports amounted to $169.2 billion (2016) compared to the Philippine level of only US$56.3 billion for same year. Vietnam has really maximized their trade with the US and EU. How can we duplicate this?

Here's Philippine export profile: "Japan (21 percent), the United States (15 percent), China (12 percent) and Hong Kong (8 percent)." Philippines shipped US$56.3 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2016.

We need to do more work to improve our exports to the US and EU. My little knowledge of economics from UP tells me international trade and foreign policy are intertwined.

And very important, the Vietnamese can stand up to China, ready to fight for their territory and EEZ, and at the same time balance relations between China and US and Japan and have moved on from war with US, not allowing such bloody past to encumber their relations with the US in pursuit of national security. 

Their defense is focused on the immediate and long term threat which is China because of China's overreaching territorial goal, a grave external security threat  that the Philippines likewise faces with China claiming and grabbing and seizing our seas and EEZ. We should study how Vietnam achieves balance in its pursuit of good diplomacy, economic development and national security.

Yes, as Vietnam is showing, we can combine a strong defense capability with a robust, strong economy.