Nguyen Manh Hung: Vietnam Communist Party Reviewed the Strategy for Homeland Protection in the New World Situation
Recently, the 8th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Party (13th Tenure) issued a Resolution on the Homeland Defence Strategy in the new situation. This marks the third time (since 2003) that our Party has issued such resolution specifically on this crucial strategic matter. It demonstrates the Party’s special concern for one of the country’s two strategic tasks. Therefore, understanding the necessity of issuing the Resolution and adhering to the fundamental perspectives determined is a highly important matter, aiming to contribute to the effective implementation of the Resolution in practical life.
1. The necessity of the Resolution
Almost as a customary practice, after every 10 years, driven by the practical requirements of the task of Homeland Defence, our Party issues a Resolution on the Strategy for Homeland Defence in the new situation. Firstly, this stems from the global and regional context, as well as their impacts on this crucial strategic task. According to the Party’s assessment, at present and in the coming years, the global and regional situation continues to undergo significant, rapidly evolving, and complex changes that are difficult to predict. Despite the prevailing trends of peace, cooperation, and development, there are still numerous difficulties and challenges. The strategic competition among major powers is becoming increasingly intense, even confrontational. Many security flashpoints persist, with the risk of escalation. Also, various forms of warfare, types of military operations, strategic domains, and new methods of conducting warfare are emerging, posing significant challenges to all nations, and Vietnam is no exception.
Secondly, domestically, although our Doi Moi efforts have achieved significant milestones, there are still limitations, weaknesses, and even new complexities. The four risks that our Party has previously warned about, along with signs of ideological, political, ethical and lifestyle declines and “self-evolution,” “self-transformation” within the Party, and other internal issues, have not been completely eliminated and, in some cases, have become more intricate and intense. Hostile forces and reactionary and opportunistic elements are actively engaged in sabotage acts, and internal factors that pose disadvantages still harbour many complexities.
Alongside this, the awareness and responsibility for Homeland Defence among a portion of Party cadres and members, and the people are sometimes not fully comprehensive, displaying subjective tendencies and a lack of vigilance. The integration of economic and social development with ensuring national defence and security is not truly robust and effective. The work of strategic assessment and forecasting at times do not align with the situation, and there have not been many breakthrough solutions to mobilise resources to strengthen national defence, security, and Homeland defence, especially in critical areas and strategic regions.
These issues pose a considerable challenge, directly impacting and placing increasingly higher demands on the task of Homeland Defence. Therefore, the issuance of a new Strategy by our Party is highly necessary, meeting the requirements of practical development, and addressing the timely leadership, guidance, and a significant transformation in the awareness, responsibility, and actions of the entire Party, people, and armed forces. This aims to harness the collective strength towards the cause of protecting the Motherland—one of the two strategic tasks of the Vietnamese revolution.
Please Download for Full Text