KISH Model United Nations 2022 POSITION PAPER
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Nguyễn Chi Lan
Name
Committee
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Delegation
Delegate of Vietnam
E-mail Address
chilan2511@gmail.com
POSITION PAPER
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Honorable Chairs, fellow delegates, and members of the United Nations, this is the delegate
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Today, we gather here in order to discuss the measures
to prevent weapons of mass destruction being utilized in Vietnam in both ongoing, and
future conflicts.
Status quo
Conflicts between countries that has led to utilize weapons of mass destructions is no longer
an unfamiliar concern globaly. The clearest epitome to this this issue is the on-going war
between Ukraine and Russia that resulted over 15,000 casualties in Ukraine. Besides that,
we have already seen so much disastrous outcome back in the past caused by wars with fatal
amarments, World War I and II, The Cold War. Combats using massively-destroyed
weapons can cause tremendous holocaust, race extermination, and genocide. Vietnam is no
exception. Today, the agenda has been brought up clearly to resolve and sort out measures to
prevent mass destruction and the use of weapons happening in Vietnam at present and future
time before all gets out of control. Until now, The United Nations Office for Disarmament
Affairs (UNODA) has disarmed and demobilized combatans and helped them rejoin the
social community, prohibited nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons and
countless has been done to reduce the intensity of the issue. However, this problem needs
cooperation from multiple countries. Countries like China, USA or Russia would likely to
abuse their high position and status to use deadly weapons without serious consequences. In
addition to that, the agenda is present to give out strategies, possible solutions for Vietnam to
not suffer from mass destruction.
Country stance and past actions
Vietnam is known to have never supported or developed mass-destructing weapons (WMD).
Since the Vietnam War in the 20th century, the country has been vocal in supporting a
complete elimination of powerful nuclear weapons after witnessed the disastrous result it
gave after the battle between France and America. The Republic of Vietnam possesses a
limited missile arsenal. However, they do not indigenously produce them. To sustain the
country’s stance, Vietnam has been keeping a good distance between conflicts with other
nations. Until now, no conflicts or disagreement between countries have been leading to war
purposes.
Vietnam became a part of the United Nations in September 1977. During the period of
working with the UN, the country has signed multiple convention for ceasing the use of
biological and chemical weapons. In 1996, a Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban treaty was
made. Coming up with that is the international convention for the Suppression of Acts of
Nuclear Terrorism in 2016 and the treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017.
Vietnam has submitted a declaration to the UN secretary general in 2021 confirming that it
does not own, possess or hold control of any nuclear weapons and does not host any other
state’s weapons on its territory.
After being a part of UNODA, the organization has been providing substansive support to
Vietnam in disarming weapons of mass destruction. This consists of nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons. The establishment participates in multilateral efforts to strengthen the
non-proliferation of WDM. Because of working with UNODA, the relationship between
other countries with Vietnam progressed over time. Reduce the possibility of being targeted
abruptly.
Possible solutions
After signing multiple conventions and treaties with UNODA, there had been a complete
elimination in using weapons of mass destruction in Vietnam. The ambassador of Vietnam
said in a conference at the UN that they acknowledge the progress made by the member
states to the success of disarming weapons. WDM at present time is not a threat to the
government and citizens of Vietnam. There has been no arguments towards working with
UN to truly resolve the issue.
Last century, the US sprayed around 80 million liters of toxic chemicals in SouthVietnam,
destroyed the ecosystems and gave so many deseases, death to humans and
animals.Vietnam’s government swore to compensate for the mistakes they’ve made in the
past during the war between Vietnam and US that led to the disastrous event. In addition,
Vietnam has been extra careful when WMD is mentioned and is doing so much to keep
WMD away from the country as much as possible. This include working with UN, promote
non-proliferation of powerful weapons and abolish WDM on its land.
In the future, Vietnam can attempt deterring and preventing states and non-state actors from
acquiring WDM. The government has the ability to engage in nuclear arms control to reduce
the threat that mass-destructed weapons pose worldwide. By that, reducing the threat it also
pose to Vietnam. The delegate of Vietnam would like to build a peaceful nuclear energy fuel
cycle that lowers the risk of misuse of nuclear capabilities.