The 13th National Congress of the Party continued to affirm the Party's comprehensive leadership over the Vietnam People's Army. In the new revolutionary period, General Secretary and Secretary of the Central Military Commission To Lam affirmed: The prerequisite for the Vietnam People's Army to continue to excellently fulfill all tasks is to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the Party, the centralized and unified management and administration of the State over the People's Army and the cause of consolidating national defense and security; and constantly promote the strength of great national unity.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944/December 22, 2024), the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day (December 22, 1989/December 22, 2024), General Secretary and Secretary of the Central Military Commission To Lam wrote an article: "Vietnam People's Army - National Pride", emphasizing: Achieving great achievements in the cause of national liberation, protecting and building the socialist Fatherland, and fulfilling international obligations over the past 80 years is due to: The Vietnam People's Army has always been under the absolute, direct, and all-round leadership of the Party..." and "The leadership of the Party is an immutable principle, an objective requirement, and a decisive factor in all victories in the cause of defending the Fatherland and in national defense tasks; In any circumstances, we must maintain and strengthen the absolute, direct leadership of the Communist Party in all aspects over the Army.
Inclusive leadership creates collective strength
The Party's leadership over the Vietnam People's Army is not only reflected in political orientation, but also comprehensively covers all fields to create a combined strength, helping the army excellently fulfill its task of building and defending the Fatherland.
 |
| Air Defense - Air Force officers parade at the 70th Anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory. Photo: VNA |
Political leadership is the core factor in building and developing the Vietnam People's Army. The Party identifies politics as the foundation to ensure that the Army is always loyal to the revolutionary goals and ideals. Since its establishment, the Party has clearly oriented: The Army is not only a force to protect the country but also a sharp political tool of the Party, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party's revolutionary tasks. History has proven that thanks to political steadfastness and indomitable fighting spirit, our Army has defeated powerful enemies and liberated the nation. Therefore, ensuring that the Army is always politically strong and building political and spiritual factors is the basic, core factor that determines the fighting strength and victory of our Army, making Party work and political work truly the "soul and lifeblood" of the Army, the basic principle in building the Party's revolutionary armed forces.
Under the light of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, the Party has built the Army into a revolutionary force, closely attached to the people and absolutely loyal to the Party, fighting for the goal of national independence and socialism. Principles such as “the Party’s absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership” and “the Army is under the sole leadership of the Party” are the guiding principles for all activities of the Army. “Absolute” affirms the sole leadership role of the Party, “direct” demonstrates the close connection between the Party and the Army, “comprehensive” is the Party’s comprehensive leadership in all aspects of the Army’s activities. It is these immutable principles that have led our Army from one victory to another, throughout the period of resistance against colonialism and imperialism to the stage of building and defending the country today.
Regarding ideological leadership, the Party pays special attention to building an army with steadfast character, noble ideals, absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland and the people, and steadfast faith in the Party's leadership. Ideological leadership is the foundation for the Vietnam People's Army to effectively deal with challenges from the plots of "peaceful evolution," "self-evolution," and "self-transformation" that hostile forces are trying to carry out with sophisticated and cunning tricks. In the face of these challenges, the Party constantly educates and fosters the ideology of cadres and soldiers through promoting the study of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, and the Party's resolutions and directives. At the same time, activities such as propaganda, political activities, and awareness-raising training are always maintained and innovated to suit the practical situation.
Ideological work does not stop at educating awareness but also aims to build a spirit of solidarity, responsibility and the will to overcome difficulties for officers and soldiers. Every soldier in the Vietnam People's Army is imbued with the idea of "the army and the people are like fish and water", always considering the people as the fulcrum, the strength, the motivation to complete the task, as the basis for carrying out the tasks of protecting the Fatherland and helping the people in natural disasters, epidemics... It is the ideological leadership of the Party that has fostered a resilient and indomitable will, helping the Army maintain the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, creating a beautiful image in the hearts of the people and international friends.
In terms of organizational leadership, the Party always focuses on building the Vietnam People's Army into an elite force, with a tight organization, strict discipline and effective operations. Carrying out the task of "focusing on building a comprehensively strong people's armed forces with a reasonable, streamlined and effective structure", the Party organization system in the army is regularly built and consolidated, ensuring a consistent and unified leadership role from top to bottom.
The Party always directs the implementation of inspection, supervision and evaluation of the activities of Party organizations in the Army. At the same time, the Party also promotes the modernization of the army, invests in modern weapons and equipment, develops high-tech forces, and ensures the ability to operate in a modern technological environment.
Finally, leadership in style and discipline is an important factor that helps the Vietnam People's Army maintain its strength and unity. Leadership in style does not stop at maintaining discipline but also focuses on building a scientific, professional, dedicated and highly responsible working style in each officer and soldier.
Military discipline is one of the core factors that create combat strength and operational efficiency. The Party always directs the strict implementation of military regulations, rules and discipline, while promoting the spirit of self-awareness and sense of responsibility of each soldier. Maintaining discipline and high unity throughout the army is always an urgent requirement to ensure that the army is the core force, absolutely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the people.
Fulfilling the noble mission in the new era
In the new era, the Vietnam People's Army is facing more complex requirements and challenges than ever before, requiring the Army to constantly improve its capacity, combat strength, and master modern military science and technology. The Party continues to affirm its strategic vision, connecting the army's internal strength with the people's strength, creating a solid national defense posture, contributing to making Vietnam a powerful and prosperous nation in the new era.
To firmly protect the Fatherland, the Party has directed the Vietnam People's Army to carry out defense and security tasks comprehensively and effectively. Taking early and remote prevention as the focus, the Party has led the Army to build a national defense posture associated with a people's security posture, creating a close connection between the Army, the Police and other forces to protect the Fatherland in all situations.
The Party also pays special attention to improving the combat readiness of the Vietnam People's Army. Through military modernization policies, the Party has led the building of a regular, elite, and gradually modernized force. Forces such as the navy, air defense - air force, electronic warfare, and cyber defense forces are prioritized for modernization to improve combat capabilities, firmly protect sovereignty over seas, islands, cyberspace, and national security in the digital age.
The Party also focuses on training cadres and soldiers with professional competence and political qualities. The army must not only be good at fighting but also have comprehensive knowledge, a clear understanding of strategic vision, and a firm grasp of science and technology to adapt to new situations.
In the new era, the Party has clearly defined the Army's mission in responding to many non-traditional challenges to ensure national security and people's safety.
One of the major challenges is the increase in anti-state activities carried out by hostile forces through the strategies of “peaceful evolution” and “violent overthrow”. Some of their arguments include: Demanding the abolition of Article 65 of the 2013 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which stipulates that “The People's Armed Forces are absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the people, the Party and the State, with the duty to protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity of the Fatherland, national security and social order and safety; protect the people, the Party, the State and the socialist regime; together with the entire people build the country and fulfill international obligations”[1]; demanding the “depoliticization” of the Army and the Public Security; they also distort the national defense and people's security policies; create suspicion, animosity, cause discord, and divide the Army from the Public Security; dividing the people from the armed forces, dividing the armed forces from the Party and State agencies. Their goal is to completely eliminate the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the armed forces, abolish the socialist regime, promote "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" from within, gradually neutralize and fade the revolutionary ideals and fighting goals of the people's armed forces.
The Party directed the Army to strengthen the work of preventing and combating "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" plots by improving political capacity, vigilance and the ability to respond quickly to unexpected situations.
In addition, climate change and natural disasters are major non-traditional threats to the country. The Party has led the Army not only to protect the Fatherland but also to proactively and actively participate in search and rescue work and respond to natural disasters. In recent years, the Vietnam People's Army has become the core force, taking the lead in supporting people to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, contributing to minimizing human and property damage. The image of soldiers who disregard danger, overcome all difficulties to save people and property, and help people stabilize their lives has left a deep impression on the people, contributing to strengthening the increasingly close military-civilian relationship.
In the field of cyber security, the Party directs the building and development of a cyberspace combat force that is equal to its mission, capable of protecting sovereignty in digital space and responding to cyber attacks from foreign organizations and countries. This is one of the important tasks in the context of the world's increasing dependence on information technology.
The Party's role in leading the Army does not stop at the task of defending the Fatherland but also extends to the field of building and developing the country. The Party identifies the Army as the core force not only in defending but also in building the country, contributing to realizing the goal of a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization.
First of all, the Vietnam People’s Army plays an important role in socio-economic development, especially in remote, isolated, border and island areas. The Party has directed the Army to participate in infrastructure development projects, build schools and hospitals, support hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and improve the material and spiritual life of the people. These activities not only bring economic benefits but also strengthen the people’s trust in the Party and the Army.
In addition, the Army also plays a pioneering role in disease prevention and control. During the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, the Vietnam People's Army, under the leadership of the Party, actively participated in disease control, built field hospitals, supported people in quarantine areas and ensured social security. These contributions clearly demonstrated the sense of responsibility, love for humanity and the sense of serving the people of the Vietnam People's Army.
Finally, the Party leads the army to carry out foreign defense tasks, clearly demonstrating Vietnam's proactive and active spirit of international integration. Activities participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force and defense cooperation with other countries have raised Vietnam's position in the international arena and affirmed the role of the Vietnam People's Army in protecting national interests, contributing to maintaining peace and security in the region and the world.
Strategic vision in development
In an increasingly complex world, the Vietnam People's Army is facing many intertwined challenges, both from within and outside. To ensure the task of protecting the Fatherland and performing its core role in the national defense and security strategy, the Party's leadership continues to play a key role, not only helping the Army overcome challenges but also creating a foundation for stronger development in the new era.
Faced with complex challenges, the Communist Party of Vietnam has set out strategic directions to develop the Vietnam People's Army into a force strong enough to protect the Fatherland in all situations:
Firstly, maintain and strengthen the Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects over the Army. The Party determined: "Maintain and strengthen the Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects over the Vietnam People's Army" through constantly consolidating the Party's organizational system in the Army, ensuring high unity of thought and action throughout the army. Documents through Party Congresses and Central Party Resolutions, such as Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW on the Strategy for National Defense in the New Situation, always affirm the Party's absolute and direct leadership over the Vietnam People's Army.
Second, improve the quality of political and ideological education. The Party continues to focus on building political capacity, vigilance and belief in the Party's leadership for each cadre and soldier. Propaganda and ideological education must always be innovative, flexible and appropriate to the actual situation, helping the army maintain the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers. In recent years, the Political Academy (Ministry of National Defense) has regularly organized intensive political training courses for cadres, with thousands of mid-level and high-level cadres trained each year. The programs "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style" have been implemented synchronously throughout the army, creating typical examples such as the Emulation Movement for Victory.
Third, promote military modernization. In the context of rapid technological development, the Party has directed the Vietnam People's Army to gradually modernize, prioritizing the navy, air defense - air force, electronic warfare and cyber warfare. The Party also encourages research, development and application of high technology in national defense, aiming to improve combat capacity and the ability to protect sovereignty. The Vietnam Navy is equipped with Kilo 636 submarines and Gepard 3.9 missile frigates, helping to improve patrol capacity and protect sovereignty in the East Sea. The Air Defense - Air Force has put into use modern air defense missile systems such as SPYDER and S-300. In addition, the construction of a cyber warfare force (Force 86) represents a step forward in electronic warfare and cyber security.
Fourth, building a comprehensive military force. The Party directs the building of the Vietnam People's Army to be not only strong in the military but also capable of participating in socio-economic tasks. The army continues to play an important role in socio-economic development, especially in remote, border, and ethnic minority areas, contributing to national construction and solidarity with the people.
Fifth, respond flexibly to non-traditional challenges. The army needs to be equipped and trained to effectively deal with emergencies such as natural disasters, epidemics and other non-traditional threats. The Party has directed the building of specialized forces for rescue, relief and epidemic prevention and control, ensuring proactiveness in all situations. Typically, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the army "rapidly" deployed the construction of a series of field hospitals, mobilized a large number of human resources, vehicles, equipment, and materials, stood side by side with local Party committees, authorities and medical forces, ... determined to prevent and control the pandemic, protect people's lives, health and lives.
Sixth, strengthen international cooperation in defense. The Party directs the Vietnam People's Army to expand defense cooperation with other countries, actively participate in United Nations peacekeeping activities, defense dialogues, training, joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and overcoming the consequences of war. This not only contributes to enhancing the position and prestige of the Army and the country in the international arena and protecting the Fatherland from afar.
The pride of the 80 years of building, fighting, winning and growing of the Vietnam People's Army, since the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army was founded until now, is the most vivid and convincing proof to affirm that the absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the Party over the Army is the decisive factor in all victories and growth of our Army. That historical reality further affirms that Ho Chi Minh's thought on the Party's absolute and direct leadership of the Army in all aspects still retains its value today; has been, is and will be the guiding principle and prerequisite for building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modern Vietnam People's Army to bring our country steadily into the new era; so that our Army is always worthy of Uncle Ho's praise: "Our Army is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Every mission is completed, every difficulty is overcome, every enemy is defeated.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/chinh-tri/cac-van-de/dang-lanh-dao-tuyet-doi-truc-tiep-ve-moi-mat-doi-voi-quan-doi-nhan-dan-viet-nam-dua-dat-nuoc-vung-buoc-tien-vao-ky-nguyen-moi-808074
Comment (0)