The Role of ASEAN and Vietnam in Counter-Terrorism

Chan Zui Tkhan' ORCID: 0000-0002-2203-2957 PhD in History Postgraduate Student, Department of Theory and History of International Relations, Russian People’s Friendship University 117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 6 myhoney292@gmail.com

Ionov Egor Maksimovich PhD in History Student of the Department of Theory and History of International Relations of People's Friendship University of Russia 117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 6 egor.ionov.01@mail.ru

IntroductionThe relevance of the research topic is due to the widespread spread of the terrorist threat around the world and in the countries of Southeast Asia, in particular.

As a negative socio-political phenomenon, terrorism is becoming a serious destabilizing factor that has a destructive impact on almost all spheres of society. The degree of influence of existing terrorist organizations in the world is obvious, which increases from year to year. Moreover, the following trend of modern terrorism is becoming more and more relevant: the expansion of its social base, the involvement in political extremist activities of a significant part of the population (especially among young people), which is associated with the activation of terrorist manifestations, the expansion of opportunities to create a more extensive infrastructure of terrorist organizations, the emergence of additional difficulties for identifying and suppressing terrorist acts, their activities performers and organizers. Terrorists are increasingly using the Internet to incite extremist sentiments in society and conduct recruitment work.

The chronological framework of the study covers the period from 2002 to 2022. The lower limit of the study is due to the creation of an inter-sessional meeting on counter-terrorism and transnational crime (inter-sessional meeting on counter-terrorism and transnational crime - ISM on CTTC) within the framework of the ASEAN regional forum (ARF). The upper limit of the study covers 2022, when the anti-terrorism training center was established under the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. The selected period is very long and full of cause-and-effect relationships and events that allow us to trace the activities of ASEAN and Vietnam, in particular, in countering terrorism.

The object of the study is the fight against terrorism.

The subject of the study is the activities of ASEAN and Vietnam, in particular, in countering terrorism.

The objectives of the study are to establish concrete steps on the part of ASEAN and Vietnam, in particular, in the field of countering terrorism, and to assess the effectiveness of the previously mentioned steps.

To achieve these goals , it was necessary to solve the following main tasks:

1. To consider the causes of terrorism on the territory of the ASEAN States;

2.                 Analyze the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism;

3.                 To study the ASEAN Action Plan to prevent and counter the growth of radicalization and violent extremism;

4. Review the Bali Work Plan adopted at the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in 2019.;

5.                 To identify the actual terrorist activity in the ASEAN States;

6.                 To draw up a list of necessary actions for the ASEAN States in order to eradicate terrorism.

The theoretical and methodological basis of the research includes institutional, analytical and problem-chronological methods. This study is based on the theory of political realism, which considers international relations as an eternal confrontation between states defending their national interests.

The source base of the study. The presented work is based on the following types of sources: journalistic, clerical and statistical.

Journalistic sources include an article by the United Nations on the topic of foreign terrorist fighters, an article on the website of the Hanoi Today news agency covering Vietnam's aspirations to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Clerical sources include the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism, Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) - meeting of senior officials on transnational crime, international law on terrorism and legal perfection in Vietnam - international law on terrorism and legal improvement in Vietnam.

Statistical sources include Global Terrorism Index reports on the number of terrorist attacks in Southeast Asian countries, on the overall level of terrorist danger in the region and in each country in different years.

The degree of study of the chosen topic depends primarily on the source base and literature. Both domestic and foreign authors have studied this problem in depth.

The problem of the evolution of the terrorist threat in the countries of Southeast Asia is revealed in the work of Chalk P., Rabasa A., Rosenau W., Piggott L.

The problem of regional security is revealed in the works of Rogozhina N.G., Chanto S.D. and R?land J.

The scientific novelty of this study is to combine the available information about the activities of ASEAN and Vietnam, in particular, in the field of combating terrorism. This work allows you to get acquainted with the prerequisites for the growth of the terrorist threat in the Southeast Asian region, the methods used by ASEAN and Vietnam, in particular, against the growth of terrorism, specific recommendations aimed at reducing the terrorist threat.

                 ASEAN counter-terrorism activities                 Terrorism is the greatest threat to all countries and peoples of the world, as well as an obstacle to progress and development.

 The growing trend of indiscriminate terrorist activity against innocent people regardless of nationality, race, citizenship and religion has become a matter of great concern for all countries of the world. From the point of view of the law, terrorism is a criminal offense that must be combated in order to create a healthy, peaceful and progressive society.

Events related to terrorism at the international level have also had an impact on Southeast Asia. The attack on the United States in 2001 was an incentive for the increase and strengthening of terrorist groups around the world. Problems such as political and economic instability, a weak Government and security system, the existence of extremist groups, local rebels and militants, problems of unity and ethnic clashes, as well as external factors are considered as serious sources of problems for the defense system of the countries of the region.

The problem of terrorism is becoming more complicated and poses increasing threats to the ASEAN member States. The development of the Internet and social networks has led to the expansion of the network of global and regional groups, as well as to new models of radicalization. The emergence of lone terrorists and regional groups who have sworn allegiance to Daesh/ISIS -the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (an organization banned in the Russian Federation), as well as the return of foreign terrorist fighters (IBT) ^[1] remain the main problems for ASEAN ^[2]. 

One of the key steps of ASEAN in combating terrorism is the adoption and implementation of the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism ^[3] and the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on countering terrorism ^[4]. The Convention provides a framework for regional cooperation in countering, preventing and suppressing terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and deepening cooperation between law enforcement agencies and relevant State authorities in counter-terrorism activities.

Areas of cooperation under the convention may, in accordance with the domestic law of the country concerned, include appropriate measures to:

1.                  Taking the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, including by timely informing other member States of the Association;

2.                  Preventing the use of the territories of Member States by those who finance, plan, facilitate or commit terrorist acts against other States and/or civilians of another country;

3.                 Prevention and suppression of the financing of terrorist acts;

4.                 Preventing the movement of terrorists or terrorist groups through effective border control and control over the issuance of identity cards and travel documents, as well as through measures to prevent the forgery or fraudulent use of identity cards and travel documents;

5.                  To promote the development of joint counter-terrorism capacity through training and regional meetings;

6.                  Raising public awareness about terrorism and the role of its participation in the fight against terrorism, as well as strengthening interfaith and intra-confessional dialogue;

7.                 Strengthening cross-border cooperation;

8. Enhanced intelligence sharing and information sharing;

9.                 Strengthening existing cooperation in the development of regional databases within the competence of the relevant ASEAN bodies;

10.            Strengthening the capacity and readiness to combat chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear terrorism, cyberterrorism and any new forms of terrorism;

11.            Conducting research and developing counter-terrorism measures;

12.             Encouraging the use of videoconferencing facilities for court proceedings, where appropriate;

13.            Ensuring the inevitability of punishment of persons involved in the financing, planning, preparation or commission of terrorist acts or in support of terrorist acts.

The member States of the Association cooperate in addressing the root causes of terrorism and the conditions conducive to its spread, in order to prevent the commission of terrorist acts and the spread of terrorist cells. The previously mentioned Convention was signed by Vietnam on January 13, 2007, and ratified on February 25, 2011.   

In 2018, the 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) adopted the ASEAN Action Plan to Prevent and Counter the Growth of Radicalization and Violent Extremism (POA PCVE) for 2018-2025. This plan is aimed at strengthening cooperation among ASEAN member States in four priority areas:

1.                  Preventing the growth of radicalism and violent extremism;

2.                  Countering radicalization and promoting deradicalization;

3.                 Enforcement of laws and strengthening of national legislation related to countering radicalism and violent extremism;

4.                 Partnership and regional cooperation.

In 2019, the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting adopted the POA PCVE 2019-2025 work plan, also known as the Bali Work Plan, for which the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) is responsible. The purpose of this plan is a comprehensive and holistic policy guidance for the 19 ASEAN sectoral bodies/entities responsible for the association's policy in the field of combating radicalism and violent extremism in the region ^[5].

 Cooperation in the fight against terrorism is mentioned in the SOMTC work program for the implementation of the previously mentioned POA PCVE plan. The work programme focuses on the exchange of information and best practices, including de-radicalization; rehabilitation and re-education of terrorists and violent extremists; scientific research; raising public awareness and countering terrorism; promoting joint operational activities, including with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies; capacity-building activities for law enforcement and criminal justice officials, as well as institutions engaged in combating the financing of terrorism; the development of cooperation with external partners.

 In the defense sector, cooperation focuses on combating chemical, biological and radiological terrorism; maritime terrorism; and urban terrorism. This cooperation is facilitated by the exchange of information and events, such as seminars and joint exercises to build joint capacity in the fight against terrorism.

Within the framework of the ASEAN regional forum (ARF), the issue of combating terrorism is discussed at the inter-sessional meeting on counter-terrorism and transnational crime (inter-sessional meeting on counter-terrorism and transnational crime - ISM on CTTC) ^[6]. Established in 2002, ISM on CTTC pursues the following goals:

1. Formulation of a common policy on combating terrorism and related transnational crimes for national and joint implementation by ARF participants;

2.                  Assessment of the state of counter-terrorism actions and cooperation in combating transnational crime in the region in order to identify priority areas for consideration and policy development.

The AMTC also adopted the Manila Declaration on Countering the Growth of Radicalism and Violent Extremism, proclaiming:

1.                 Continued exchange of information and best practices among ASEAN members on countering and preventing radicalism and extremism;

2.                 Continuation of mutual legal assistance in criminal cases related to the growth of radicalization and violent extremism, and the extradition of terrorists themselves in accordance with the domestic laws of the ASEAN member States;

3. Development of a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to addressing the threats of the growth of radicalism and violent extremism;

4.                 Strengthening existing mechanisms to combat terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism, including through regular regional dialogue, for example, through coordination of relevant law enforcement agencies to exchange analyses, factors, root causes and risk assessments in order to strengthen national and regional counter-terrorism policies;

5. Enhance cooperation with ASEAN dialogue partners, relevant international organizations and other stakeholders through the exchange of experiences, lessons learned and best practices in the fight against radicalism and violent extremism.

Since 2014, ASEAN has also been striving to respond to regional threats posed by militants who had previously been recruited from among their citizens to participate in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and returned to their homeland ^[7].

The ASEAN decisions, with the exception of the 2007 Convention, are advisory in nature and are non-binding, but they play a significant role in regional and international counter-terrorism activities aimed at achieving the United Nations global counter-terrorism strategy.

Summarizing all the above, we can conclude that ASEAN's counter-terrorism activities are quite productive: the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism (2007), the ASEAN Comprehensive Action Plan on Countering Terrorism (2017), the ASEAN Action Plan and work Plan "Preventing and Countering the Growth of Radicalization and Violent Extremism" (2018-2025) were adopted.However, ASEAN's counteraction to terrorism is not as effective: according to the Global Terrorism Index Score ^[8], the most economically and politically strong states of the association remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks. For example, the Philippines ranks 16th in the "The impact of terrorism" rating, Thailand - 22, Indonesia - 24, Malaysia - 63, and Vietnam - 85.

Moreover, based on the data of the previously mentioned resource, you can also see the number of terrorist acts in the countries of the association: Philippines – 62, Indonesia – 16, Thailand – 14.

Vietnam's counter-terrorism activitiesVietnam is making efforts to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and international obligations in the fight against terrorism, stressing that it also closely cooperates with international organizations and other countries.

Vietnam has joined 15 global conventions and many regional and bilateral agreements on combating terrorism and transnational crimes ^[9].

Vietnam has also signed bilateral treaties on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition with more than 40 countries, has become a party to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking.

Vietnam attaches great importance to national obligations under UN Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism, includes provisions on this issue in many relevant legal documents and is constantly improving the capacity of law enforcement agencies, including through the establishment of a counter-terrorism training center under the Ministry of Public Security in February 2022.

In 2013 Vietnam has adopted a law on combating terrorism, which establishes a legal framework for more effective fight against terrorism in Vietnam and the promotion of international cooperation for this purpose ^[10].

At the regional level, Vietnam and other ASEAN member States continue to make collective efforts at both the national and regional levels to combat international terrorism.

As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Vietnam joins forces with other ASEAN members in implementing the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism and the comprehensive plan of Action to Counter Terrorism. Vietnam works closely with ASEAN members through various regional mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to discuss and cooperate on issues related to combating terrorism, violence and extremism.

Vietnam also actively participates in counter-terrorism cooperation projects and seminars initiated within the framework of ASEAN, APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), ASEAN-Japan, ASEAN-Russia Dialogues, etc.

Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations today still represents one of the most serious threats to the international community. The world continues to suffer from monstrous terrorist acts carried out using increasingly sophisticated tactics.

Vietnam shares the serious concern of the international community in the fight against terrorism and takes an uncompromising position towards terrorism. Given the complex nature and unpredictable trajectory of international terrorism, Viet Nam stresses the urgent need for a coordinated and unified approach to effectively combat terrorism at both the regional and international levels.

Vietnam, pursuing its policy aimed at eradicating terrorism, unfortunately, has not achieved significant success: according to the Global Terrorism Index Score in 2011, Vietnam was ranked 116th in the "The impact of terrorism" rating, since there was not a single terrorist attack in the state in 2011 ^[11]. In 2016 Vietnam was ranked 130th also with 0 terrorist attacks ^[12]. In 2019 Vietnam has risen to 97th place in the "Influence of Terrorism" rating ^[13], and in 2022 Vietnam has risen to 85th place.

As you can see, despite the productive activities of the Vietnamese government in the field of countering terrorism, the danger of terrorist attacks still remains, moreover, Vietnam has been gradually rising in the rating of "the influence of terrorism" over the years, which characterizes Vietnam's policy in the field of countering terrorism as insufficiently effective.

ConclusionStates and the international community should develop cooperation at the global and regional levels.

  In this regard, the fight against terrorism must be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law. At the same time, it is extremely important to address all issues related to addressing the root causes of international terrorism, including political, economic and social inequality and injustice around the world.

The activities of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries and Vietnam, in particular, in the field of countering terrorism can be considered quite productive: the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism (2007), the ASEAN Comprehensive Action Plan on Countering Terrorism (2017), the ASEAN Action plan and work plan "Preventing and Countering the Growth of Radicalization and Violent Extremism" (2018-2025). As an ASEAN member, Vietnam joins forces with other members of the association in implementing the ASEAN Convention on Combating Terrorism and the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Counter Terrorism. Viet Nam works closely with Member States through various regional mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to discuss and cooperate on issues related to combating terrorism, violence and extremism.

However, this productivity of the counter-terrorism activities of ASEAN and Vietnam, in particular, has little effect on its effectiveness: the terrorist danger in the region remains at a fairly high level: the most developed states in the region are still in danger of terrorist acts that occur with enviable regularity.

Due to the continuing terrorist threat in the region, the member States of the association need to:

1.                To carry out systematic monitoring of terrorist activity in the region to ensure the development of targeted and evidence-based measures to counteract;

2.                To develop, modify and implement legislation, policies and strategies to combat terrorism and its financing in accordance with international standards and best practices;

3. Build the capacity of government agencies and non-governmental actors to respond to cases of terrorism and terrorist financing in accordance with human rights principles and standards based on the rule of law;

4.                 Strengthen regional and international cooperation mechanisms.