In unstable world, solutions must come from Asia-Pacific: To Lam

Mr Lam, 68, ascended to the top of the Communist Party of Vietnam in August 2024. At the party’s National Congress in January 2026, he was re-elected general secretary by a unanimous vote, cementing his dominant status.

Since taking office, Mr Lam has pursued what analysts have described as a “diplomacy offensive”. He visited 16 countries in his first year alone – more than any of his predecessors.

He is currently on a four-day state visit to Singapore, and earlier on May 29 called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Mr Lam dedicated a significant portion of his speech to discussing the crisis of international order, in which he stressed that global order should not come through coercion, unilateral imposition or threat of force.

“The crisis of the international order begins when rules are still invoked yet their binding force erodes; when commitments are repeatedly affirmed yet undermined in practice; when fundamental principles of international law are interpreted selectively, applied inconsistently, or subordinated to the logic where might makes right and the strong prey upon the weak,” he said.

He also warned that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and quantum computing could “compress decision-making timelines and increase the risk of miscalculation”, leading to strategic distrust.

IISS, in its Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2026 report, released a day before the start of the forum, listed quantum technological advances as among the new challenges that the region faces.

Among his proposals for tackling the crises, Mr Lam said that a rules-based order is particularly vital for seas and oceans as they provide the lifelines of global trade, energy, food and supply chains.

“No country benefits when these routes become theatres of coercion, confrontation or displays of power,” he said.

His remark came as the world is facing an energy crisis from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea remain unresolved among China, Taiwan and several South-east Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Mr Lam said Vietnam’s position on the South China Sea remains clear, consistent and principled, including its support for the peaceful settlement of all disputes and disagreements on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“Vietnam respects the legitimate rights and interests of other states, while remaining resolute and persistent in safeguarding its own independence, sovereignty, and legitimate sovereign and jurisdictional rights in accordance with international law,” he said.

Mr Lam lauded the SLD, saying it should remain a platform where “nations listen carefully to one another” and clarify their intentions rather than restating their positions. He also proposed an open, inclusive regional architecture with ASEAN at its centre.

During the question-and-answer session, Senior Colonel Zhang Chi, an associate professor from China’s National Defense University, asked Mr Lam whether the “3+3” dialogue between China and Vietnam could be a new approach to promote regional security cooperation.

During Mr Lam’s visit to China in April, the two sides established the mechanism to boost bilateral security cooperation involving three key ministries – defence, foreign affairs and public security.

In response, Mr Lam said that while the dialogue is a valuable mechanism, it is a continuation of Vietnam’s self-reliance and self-resilient defence policy.

“Vietnam will not engage in any military alliance, not align with one country against another, not allow a third country to station troops or bases in Vietnam, and not resort to the threat or use of force,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Mr Lam said that major powers are welcome to engage with the region provided that their efforts are transparent, responsible, respectful of international law, supportive of ASEAN centrality and conducive to reducing tensions.

“What the region seeks is neither the mere presence nor absence of any major power. What it seeks is responsible commitment,” he said.

“We recognise that competition is an enduring reality of international relations. But competition must remain bounded by law, guided by transparency, and exercised with restraint,” he added.

The SLD will continue until May 31, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth scheduled to lead the plenary session on “US Strategy for Peace in the Indo-Pacific” on May 30. Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta is delivering a special address on the same day.