Communist Review - Strengthening national defense potential and posture is a major policy of strategic significance affirmed in the Document of the 13^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). This is the result of Party's leadership in strengthening national defense and defending the Homeland through 35 years of national renovation. Deeply grasping this point of view will be an important basis for the entire Party, people and army to enhance overall power, strengthen defense potential and posture, and firmly defend the Homeland in the current situation.

1- Inherited from the tradition of nation building and defending, through 35 years of renovation, 30 years of implementation the Platform for nation building in the transitional period to socialism, especially 10 years of implementation of the Platform  (added and developed in 2011), the 13^th Party Congress advocated: “It is essential to strengthen defense and security potentials; build a firm “posture of people’s hearts and minds” in the all-people national defense and security; firmly consolidate the “all-people's defense” and “people's security” posture⁽¹⁾. This is a crucial point, supporting the consistent and cross-cutting vision of CPV which aims to strengthen the defense potential and posture to accomplish the task of defending the Homeland in the short and long run.

2- Looking back at the 35 years of renovation and after the term of the 12^th Party Congress, national defence and construction, besides presenting many opportunities and advantages, is also placed before a myriad of difficulties and challenges such as the rapid, complicated and unpredictable development of the world and regional situation, fiercer strategic competition between major countries, increasing non-traditional security challenges. The hostile forces who conspire with reactionaries have not given up their plots against Vietnamese Party, State, the socialist regime and the Army with sophisticated, diabolical and public plots. So, the task of defending the Homeland, especially the costal territorial sovereignty, faces enormous challenges.

Defined by this context, the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat have made efforts to direct and implement effectively military and defense tasks stipulated by the Resolution of the 12^th Party Congress. They have attached great importance to consolidating and strengthening the defense potential and posture, building the Vietnam People's Army to become “a revolutionary, regular, highly-skilled, and gradually modernised force”. Many important achievements have been recorded to get inclusive goals:  “firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, national interests, the CPV, the State, people and socialist regime; ensuring security, order and social safety; preserving a peaceful and stable environment conducive to national development”⁽²⁾.

National defense potential is the ability of human, material, financial and spiritual resources to be mobilized domestically and internationally to perform national defense tasks⁽³⁾. This is a crucial factor to consolidate and enhance national strength to satisfy the requirements of national defense. After 5 years of implementing the Resolution of the 12^th Party Congress, the strengthening of national defense potential has made important breakthroughs in thinking and building an all-people national defense, thus creating the most comprehensive resources to succeed national defense tasks in the course of national industrialization and modernization and international integration.

The CPV, State, Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense have conducted a close and comprehensive leadership in enhancing defense potentials in all fields: political-spiritual, economic, scientific, technological and military potentials. In the political-spiritual field, the patriotism, solidarity as well as the will of independence, self-reliance of the entire Party, people and army have been highly promoted in building the all-people defense of the people, by the people, for the people with the nucleus of building a firm “posture of people’s hearts and minds”. The all-people defense posture and the people's security posture, especially in strategic and key areas, have been firmly consolidated; The potential and strength of the defense areas have been raised at all levels, ensuring autonomy, self-reliance, on-the-spot, close coordination to pursue the goal: “village protects village, commune protects commune, district protects district, province protects province”, meeting defense requirements in conformity with socio-economic situation of each locality and the whole country. The armed forces have always played a pioneering role in providing prompt support to the people in the process of prevention and response to natural disasters, epidemics, rescue and search for victims, tackling of environmental incidents, hunger eradication, poverty alleviation, building  of cultural life and new countryside..., thus tightening the relationship between armed forces and the people, consolidating a firm “posture of people’s hearts and minds” , beautifying the image of “Uncle Ho's army” in the new period.

In the economic field, while maintaining a relatively high economic growth rate compared to the region and the world (6.7% average for 5 years), the Party and State focused on strengthening the economic potential military power, “effectively combining national defense and security with economy, culture and society in each socio-economic development strategy and plan”⁽⁴⁾. National defense and security have been given a due consideration in socio-economic development strategies of each locality, sector throughout the nation. Implementing the Party's viewpoint: “Every step of socio-economic growth contributes to the enhancement of national defense and security potentials”, some initial weakenesses as pointed out at the 12^th Party Congress have been removed, especially in remote areas, border and maritime areas.

In the field of science and technology, the advances from the Fourth Industrial Revolution are widely applied in military and defense; A great importance has been attached to the development of science, military art and modern, dual-use defense industry. In the military field, the armed forces are developed comprehensively, taking political strength as the foundation to increase combat power. More attention has been paid to training and drills; the military forces are equipped with increasingly modern weapons and technical means, a number of forces have been prioritized to advance towards modernity so as to master modern technology, enhance combat ability to protect sovereignty of territorial sea, borders, continental shelf and cyberspace, to prevent and fight against “peaceful evolution”. Military forces have been reorganized so as to become “pure, compact, strong”; The militia and self-defense forces have been improved in both quantity and quality; military reserve forces have become more powerful...

The all-people national defense posture consist of organizing, preparing forces and defense potentials throughout the territory  in accordance with the national defense strategy in order to prevent all conspiracies and threats of hostile forces and move the country from peacetime to wartime when needed⁽⁵⁾. Implementing the Resolution of the 12^th Party Congress, the all-people defense posture has been closely associated with the people's security posture; national defense strategies are planned and adjusted in line with the strategy of safeguarding the Homeland and socio-economic development. The connection between defense, security and foreign affairs is increasingly close, creating a solid defense, security and foreign affairs posture, satisfying the demands for national defence in the new situation. The building of provincial, municipal and national defense zones on land, in the air, at sea, on islands and in cyberspace has been improved. The system of defensive works, combat bases, rear bases, civil defense systems..., has been gradually built and completed, ensuring readiness for combat and post-conflict recovery, response to natural disasters. The construction of the border patrol roads was accelerated, and the Truong Son Dong road was basically completed. Under the Party’s leadership, the State and the whole political system are involved in mobilizing internal and external resources in order to increase the overal power, strengthen defense and security potentials,  meeting the requirements of building and safeguarding the Homeland. The defense industry is comprehensively developed both in breadth and depth...

These achievements are due to different factors, of which the main one is the effective and wise leadership of the Party, State, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense as well as the full involvement of the whole political system and population, in which the armed forces are at the core. The Party's thinking on national defense has made important progress. The formulation and promulgation of a wide range of strategies specialized in military and defense⁽⁶⁾, the amendment and promulgation of Vietnam Border Guard Law, Law on Mobilization of Reserves Forces, and Resolution No. 130/2020/QH14 dated November 13, 2020 on “joining the United Nations peacekeeping force”, Vietnam National Defense White Paper as well as  Resolution of the 8^th  Plenum of the 9^th and 11^th Party Central Committee have constituted a unified and comprehensive whole on the strategy of national defense both in theory and practice. During the implementation process, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense have made important breakthroughs in leading the construction of the all-people national defense in association with the people's security posture; they have stepped up the construction of provincial and municipal defensive areas; prepared armed forces to strengthen potential and defense posture.

However, the awareness of some cadres, party members and people about the task of protecting the Homeland in general, the strengthening of defense potential and posture in particular is still limited. Leadership in the implementation of policies has not been really effective in some localities. The combination of the all-people defense posture with the people's security posture; between economic, cultural and social development and enhancement of national defense, security and foreign affairs in some areas is not very close; Budget investment in infrastructure to build the battlefield, defense areas, and develop science and technology is small.

3-After 35 years of renovation, thanks to the joint efforts of the entire Party, people and army, never has the country had such an opportunity, potential, position and international prestige as it is today. However, amid rapid, complicated and unpredictable developments of the regional and global situation, countries are adjusting their development strategies and methods to adapt to the new situation. Extreme nationalism, pragmatism, and great powerism in international relations are on the rise; territorial sovereignty disputes among countries, strategic competition among major countries, new strategic space, new types of combat and so forth present challenges to peace and stability in the world and in the region. Non-traditional security factors, particularly terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics continue to develop complicatedly... The Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially digital technology, experiences strong growth, creating breakthroughs in several sectors, including the military and defense ones. The emergence of new forms of war, modern weapons and military equipment along with the change in the strategic environment have fundamentally modified the military organization, forms, and methods of warfare. The Asia-Pacific region, in which Southeast Asia occupies an increasingly important strategic position and is, hence, subject to  ​​strategic competition between great powers and at risk of instability. Disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime sovereignty have become more intense, complicated and drastic. Peace, stability, freedom, security and safety in the East Sea face great challenges and potential conflicts.

Domestically, the national overall power, potential, prestige and position in the international arena as well as the people's trust in the Party and State have been increasingly enhanced, creating a vital premise for the construction and defense of the Homeland. Nevertheless, the cause of national construction and defense also faced innumerable challenges. The four threats pointed out by the Party still exist and even become real. Hostile forces hatch “peaceful evolution” plots to abolish the leadership of the Party, “de-politicize” the armed forces, and separate the Party from the people and Army... All these issues set new requirements for the task of strengthening defense potentials and posture, and defending the Homeland.

The Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress clearly stated the key tasks to strengthen national defense and security and firmly defend the Socialist Vietnamese Homeland in the coming time as follows: “Maximizing the overall power of the whole nation and political system combined with the power of the world”⁽⁷⁾; “Strengthening defense and security potential, promoting a firm “posture of people’s hearts and minds”  in the all-people national defense and security”⁽⁸⁾. To do that, a due consideration should be given to the main solutions as follows.

Firstly, raise awareness about the importance of strengthening the potential and posture of national defense.

The strength of national defense consists of the strength of the great unity of the whole nation combined with the power of the times as well as the national overall power in politics, economy, culture, society, national defense, security and foreign affairs, the strength of the whole political system and the entire people under the leadership of the Party and State with the armed forces as the core. This vision represents the new thinking of the Party and constitutes the strategic orientation helping the entire Party, people and army to accomplish military and defense tasks and firmly defend the Homeland in the new situation. Accordingly, our Party advocates: “a great importance should be attached to increasing propaganda, awareness and responsibilities of the whole Party, people, army, all levels, sectors and branches, cadres and party members”⁽⁹⁾; at the same time, it is necessary to improve vigilance, not blindly pursue economic benefits. It is required to be aware of the role of national defense and security for socio-economic growth. In peacetime, some people subjectively think that a strong economy will evidently create a strong defense potential and posture...; This greatly influences the thinking about defense potential and posture building. Therefore, with socio-economic development as the centerpiece, Party building as the key, cultural and human development as the spiritual foundation, and enhanced national defense and security as a vital and constant task, it is essential to improve the effectiveness of propaganda and education activities; expand the scope and diversify forms and methods of propaganda, effectively promote the role of communication and staff. A top priority should be given to reinforcing the communication among key cadres at all levels and branches to create a consensus on awareness and action, and promptly overcome misperceptions as stated by the 13^th National Congress.

Secondly, strengthen the leadership of the Party, the management role of the State in building defense potential and posture.

The leadership of the CPV and the unified management of the State in military and defense fields constitute the basic principles throughout the revolutionary process of Vietnam. The Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress reaffirmed: “It is compulsory to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects, the unified management of the State over the People's Army, People's Public Security and the cause of national defense and security”⁽¹⁰⁾. In theoretical awareness as well as in practice, CPV is always faithful and applies creatively Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought in accordance with the revolutionary requirements to consolidate national defense. The Party leadership and state management are decisive factors for the successful safeguarding of our Homeland. Therefore, strengthening the Party leadership and state management is the basic solution to build defense potential and posture in the new period. In that process, it is indispensable to take summary assessments, develop theoretical framework, raise awareness, renew thinking to match up to reality, contributing to the successful accomplishment of dual goals of national construction and protection.

Thirdly, improve the effectiveness of leadership, organization and concretization of contributors to the enhancement of defense potential and posture.

Regarding political-spiritual potential, more attention should be paid to building people's trust in the Party, State, the socialist regime and the renovation course. Effectively implement the Resolution of the 4^th Plenum of the 11^th Party Central Committee on “Some urgent issues of Party building today”, the Resolution of the 4^th Plenum of the 12^th Central Committee on Strengthening Party building and rectification; preventing and combating against the deterioration of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, and the manifestations of “self-evolution”, “self-transformation”. Build a pure and strong Party in politics, ideology, ethical values, organization and staff; build a socialist rule of law state of the people, by the people, for the people; improve the people’s material and spiritual life; make progress and social justice; promote the national cultural identity and traditions. A particular priority should be given to socio-economic development in remote areas, costal and border regions to fulfill the goals of hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and narrow the gap between regions. Promote democracy under the motto “people know, people discuss, people do and people monitor, people enjoy benefits”; improve the effectiveness of the fight against corruption and consider this a decisive factor in building the current political-spiritual potential. Regarding economic potential, building the economic potential of the all-people national defense should be done through a close combination of socio-economic development with the consolidation of national defense and security; associate socio-economic development with the construction of provincial and municipal defense zones as planned; build economic - defense zones in strategic localities. Regarding scientific and technological potential, building the scientific and technological potential of the all-people national defense must be closely linked with the effective application of science and technology advances to fulfill military tasks. In terms of military potential, this is the core element of defense potential that is based on other potentials. It manifests the ability to maintain, perfect and develop combat power, combat readiness of armed forces units, the reserve of human and physical resources for military missions. Consequently, building military potential must be closely associated with the process of national industrialization and modernization and with achievements obtained in economy, science and technology, culture - ideology.

Fourthly, continue to supplement and perfect mechanisms and policies on strengthening the defense potential and posture in accordance with national safeguarding in the new circumstance.

Mechanisms and policies are pivotal factors for strengthening the defense potential and posture. Over the past years, the supplement and improvement of mechanisms and policies have been prioritized, removing obstacles to strategic localities, border, costal and remote areas. However, the new situation requires that more elements should be added to match up to reality and remove hindrances to the enhancement of defense potential and posture, such as in  mobilizing forces, in combining economic, cultural and social sectors with national defense, security and foreign affairs. Accordingly, it is needfull to grasp the Party's viewpoints in building laws, mechanisms and policies on strengthening defense potential and posture so that they become compact, homogeneous without hindering economic, cultural and social development. The regulatory improvement must not only be based on reality, but also on the goals and major orientations in the 10-year socio-economic development strategy (2021-2030) and the 5-year socio-economic development plan (2021 – 2025) set out by the 13th  Party Congress to ensure consistency among sectors and levels.

Fifthly, play to the fullest extent the pivotal role of the armed forces in enhancing the defense potential and posture.

Strengthening the potential and posture of national defense is a common responsibility of the entire Party, people and army, in which the armed forces hold a vital role backbone. It is, hence, essential to bring into full play the role of the People's Army in advising and proposing guidelines, solutions, supervising and managing the use of defense land, developing economy, culture and society as well as building economic - defense zones, especially in strategic border and costal regions, maintaining a peaceful environment, political stability, social order and safety, and at the same time developing economy, culture and society nationwide and in each locality.

Military units need to regularly grasp the current situation of each locality so as to promptly advise local Party committees and authorities in leading, implementing local defense affairs, effectively concretizing resolutions, directives, plans and schemes on national defense and security; It is also required to advise on the military works construction according to the defense plan, especially in border and costal areas. Promote the role of military units as "working troops" in key and complicated regions in terms of security; actively help people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, and build new rural areas.

Sixthly, promote foreign affairs and defense cooperation to enhance the defense potential and posture.

Speed up the implementation of Resolution No. 22-/NQ-TW dated April 10, 2013 of the Politburo on “international integration” and Resolution No. 806/NQ-TW dated December 31, 2013 of the Central Military Commission on “International integration and defense diplomacy until 2020 and the following years.” Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress advocated a good combination of national strength with the power of the times and an proactive and active international integration”⁽¹¹⁾. As a result, a due consideration should be given to reinforcing cooperation and effectively exploiting all external resources to enhance the defense potential and posture. In the new context of global integration, the strength of the times and the support of international community is of significant importance in safeguarding the Homeland in general and strengthening the defense potential and posture in particular. To do this, in addition to increasing national interests and expanding international cooperation, Vietnam should further develop defense cooperation with all countries, particularly neighboring countries, strategic partners as well as comprehensive partners. An active involvement in multilateral defense mechanisms and in settling regional and world problems, including UN peacekeeping operations should be attached a great importance. The support of international community is also an indispensable contributor to strengthen the defense potential and posture, firmly defend the Homeland in the new situation.

-----------------

(1) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, vol. I, p. 157

(2) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, pp. 67 - 68

(3) See: Clause 2, Article 2 of the 2018 National Defense Law

(4) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, p. 68

(5) See: Clause 5, Article 2 of the 2018 National Defense Law

(6) National defense strategy, military strategy, national security protection strategy, national border protection strategy, national defense strategy in cyberspace

(7), (8), (9) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, pp. 155, 157, 161

(10) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, pp. 160 - 161

(11) Documents of the 13^th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, p. 162

This article was published in the Communist Review No. 969 (July 2021)