Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence Proposes New Law to Prevent Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Ministry of Defence has put forward a new legislative proposal aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), seeking to enhance the nation’s legal framework in alignment with international treaties.
According to the draft prepared by the ministry, WMDs are defined as weapons capable of inflicting significant losses on enemy forces, damaging technical assets, and impacting economic and defence infrastructure, while also causing severe environmental damage and psychological distress to populations. These weapons include biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological types.
The ministry warned that WMDs pose a grave threat if obtained by nations with malicious intent, terrorist groups, or other non-state actors. Concerns have heightened over the increasing ease of manufacturing WMDs, as individuals with basic knowledge of chemistry or biology could potentially produce them. These weapons could even be remotely detonated in crowded areas or concealed in public spaces, regardless of size or confinement.
The ministry also pointed out the challenges in controlling the spread of WMDs, emphasizing the lack of effective measures to safeguard densely populated cities from small or large-scale attacks.
The United Nations has established several international legal instruments to curb the proliferation of WMDs, including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which have been ratified by most countries globally.
As a signatory to multiple international agreements on WMD non-proliferation, Vietnam introduced Government Decree 81 in 2019 to address the issue domestically. While the decree has yielded positive outcomes, the ministry acknowledged that certain shortcomings persist. Therefore, enacting a comprehensive law to prevent the proliferation of WMDs has become essential to address these gaps.
The proposed legislation focuses on five key areas:
- Refining general regulations on WMD non-proliferation.
- Enhancing efforts to counter the spread of specific types of WMDs.
- Strengthening border controls and monitoring dual-use goods.
- Improving measures to combat the financing of WMD proliferation.
- Bolstering the capacity and responsibilities of relevant authorities.
This legislative move underscores Vietnam’s commitment to aligning national policies with global efforts to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous weapons, especially amid growing concerns over their accessibility and misuse.
