On this proud record, the recent term has marked a period of strong, comprehensive transformation. The goal of building an “elite, compact, and strong” force has been completed ahead of schedule; overall quality and combat power have continued to rise; and force development has been closely integrated with the consolidation of the all-people’s defense, all-people’s defense posture linked with people’s security posture.
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Tank T-90S lead the formation past the grandstand during the full-dress rehearsal for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. |
Entering a new stage, the global and regional environment is evolving rapidly, becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. Modern wars and military conflicts differ fundamentally from traditional warfare. High-tech weapons are used more extensively; non-contact operations, electronic warfare, cyber operations, and unmanned systems have become commonplace; the battlespace has expanded, and the line between the front and the rear is increasingly blurred.
These developments place an urgent requirement on accelerating the building of a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modernized military that remains absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the people. The objective is to ensure ever-higher overall quality and combat power, enabling the military to serve as the core force in national defense and security and Fatherland protection in all situations. This goal is clearly identified in the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 12th Military Party Congress.
To achieve the target of building a modernized military, modernization in military and defense thinking must come first. A clear understanding of modern operational characteristics, weapons and equipment, technologies, and command-and-control methods is an essential foundation for developing military and defense thinking suited to Vietnam’s conditions. Party committees, chains-of-command, and all officers and soldiers must regard this as an imperative in the new era, avoiding mechanical imitation as well as complacency and subjectivism.
At the same time, building a modernized military is inseparable from advancing military science and technology. Priority must be given to research and mastery of foundational, core, and strategic technologies. Pro-active research, design, manufacture, production, and procurement of advanced weapons and technical equipment are required, along with their timely introduction into training and combat readiness. This directly reflects the requirement for strategic autonomy in the defense sector.
Throughout this process, it is essential to consistently uphold the principle that people are the central and decisive factor. Accordingly, military modernization must be closely linked with improving the quality of training and education and with building a contingent of officers, staff, and soldiers who possess firm political stance, strong professional competence, and the ability to master modern weapons and equipment. Tradition and experience must be effectively combined with new knowledge and modern combat skills.
Training and exercises must be closely aligned with the realities of modern warfare. Emphasis should be placed on combined arms operations, military region and defensive area exercises, and opposition-based drills. Training grounds must be closely connected to battlefield requirements, avoiding formalism, rigid templates, and overly scripted scenarios.
Alongside building a modernized military, the development of a modern all-people’s defense is a long-term strategic requirement. People’s warfare to defend the Fatherland under new conditions demands the full mobilization of the strength of the great national unity bloc, enhanced awareness and responsibility across society for national defense, and the building of strong defensive areas consistent with the two-tier local government structure. Socio-economic development must be closely integrated with the strengthening of defense and security to create comprehensive strength for protecting the Fatherland early and from afar.
Underlying all these requirements is a core principle: the Party exercises absolute and direct leadership over the military and the national defense cause in all aspects, while the VPA continues to uphold its proud traditions and, at the same time, pro-actively and creatively advances the building of a modernized military, a modernized all-people defense, and modern forms of warfare, in line with the demands and tasks of safeguarding the Fatherland in the new era.
By Editorial Board of the People’s Army Newspaper
Translated by Tran Hoai