Innovative thinking on national defense in the new era

The history of building and defending the country of the Vietnamese people has proven a truth: Protecting the Fatherland is the cause of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army and the entire political system. The national defense foundation, a unique creation of our Party, is not only the result of the process of inheriting and developing traditional military art but also a vivid expression of dialectical, flexible and creative thinking in new conditions.

In the main objectives section, the draft Political Report submitted to the 12th Party Congress of the Army clearly stated: Mobilizing all resources to build a strong and modern national defense; building military zone and defense area defenses associated with building a solid "people's heart position". Strengthening national defense and civil defense, effectively responding to traditional and non-traditional security challenges. That shows that building a strong and modern national defense is not only an immediate requirement but also a long-term strategic requirement.

Armored Soldiers at the ceremony, parade, and march to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2. Illustration photo: qdnd.vn

A strong and modern national defense is a defense that is organized, arranged and operated according to a new methodology, closely linked with new technology, new thinking and a modern management system. National defense is no longer limited to the military , but has expanded to the fields of economics, science and technology, diplomacy, culture, cyber security, space... The army is still the core force in building a strong and modern national defense, but the role of ministries, branches, localities, socio-political organizations and the entire population is indispensable. This policy creates favorable conditions for organizing the armed forces in the direction of "lean, compact, strong", with the ability to respond flexibly, ready to fight effectively in all situations.

Building a strong and modern national defense associated with "people's hearts and minds"

One of the profound highlights in building a strong and modern national defense is to firmly establish the "people's hearts" - where patriotism, the will for independence, and the desire for development of the entire nation crystallize into an invisible but extremely great strength. In the context of intertwined traditional and non-traditional security, people's hearts are the "soft shield" protecting the nation from all fluctuations.

To build a solid "people's heart position", it is necessary to focus on educating the entire population about national defense and security, first of all in the national education system, among cadres, party members, union members, and association members. National defense content must be included in all cultural, media, artistic, television, social network activities... the "soft fronts" of the digital age. In particular, it is necessary to further promote the role of revolutionary journalism in spreading vigilance, consolidating trust, and improving political capacity for the younger generation. Strengthening national defense cultural institutions, developing cultural products, and creating digital content to serve the goal of raising the sense of community responsibility for the cause of strengthening national defense and protecting the Fatherland.

An indispensable element of a strong and modern national defense is to build an elite cyberspace combat force, master core technology, apply artificial intelligence, Big Data, quantum technology, robotic technology, smart weapons... in building a "digital army" capable of responding in both real space and cyber space. Along with that is to perfect the national defense legal system, build a legal corridor to mobilize the total social force in wartime and peacetime. The law must create an effective coordination mechanism between forces, localities, organizations, businesses and people, ensuring unified and flexible operation when unexpected situations occur.

The defense industry is the pillar of a strong and modern national defense. It is necessary to promote the development of the defense industry in a dual-use direction, closely combining defense with people's lives; forming high-tech industrial complexes, linking the State-Army-enterprises-research institutes-private sector. This is an important driving force for Vietnam to gradually master modern weapons and equipment and rise to become a country with an independent defense.

Linking national defense with development, enhancing national position

A strong and modern national defense cannot be separated from socio-economic development, foreign affairs and international integration. In the new conditions, national defense must not lag behind or slow down development, but must go hand in hand, creating a solid foundation and driving force for the comprehensive development of the country. Accordingly, it is necessary to effectively implement the strategy of combining national defense with the economy, both ensuring the maintenance of national sovereignty and security and promoting investment, trade, technology, education, tourism and services. Models of linking national defense with the economy in border areas, islands, remote and isolated areas need to be further replicated, with creative and effective approaches, suitable to the characteristics of each locality.

Defense diplomacy, one of Vietnam's bright spots, needs to be further promoted. It is a channel for building strategic trust, contributing to stabilizing regional security and maintaining a peaceful environment for development. Continue to expand multilateral and diverse defense relations, proactively participate in international defense and security cooperation mechanisms; both demonstrating global responsibility and upholding the principles of self-defense and peace.

Building a strong and modern national defense is not only the work of the Army, but also the cause of the entire people and the entire political system. Every citizen, every organization, every industry, every locality is a "wing" in the national defense posture to protect the Fatherland. When national defense becomes a natural part of people's lives, of their development thinking, of their daily actions, then the national defense has taken root and become a solid fortress from within.

Promoting the core role of the Army in the all-people posture

Building a strong and modern national defense cannot be separated from the central and core role of the Vietnam People's Army, the revolutionary army organized, led and trained by our Party. In all circumstances, the Army always plays the role of a loyal force, a solid support in the country's defense, a "steel fist" in preventing and fighting war, and at the same time a "steel shield" in protecting the peaceful life of the people.

However, to carry out that mission in the new era, the Army must constantly innovate comprehensively, from organization, streamlined staffing, modern weapons and equipment, to training, combat readiness, effective response to non-traditional security, cyber defense and digital transformation in the military and defense fields. Strengthen coordination with the People's Public Security and other forces, contributing to creating a unified, synchronous, interconnected and solid posture in all aspects.

In addition, building a politically and ideologically strong Army continues to be the consistent foundation, ensuring revolutionary nature, steadfast goals and ideals, and absolute loyalty to the Party, State and people. In particular, it is necessary to promote the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new period, spreading the image of a People's Army soldier who is not only good at fighting but also dedicated in work, exemplary in ethics, close to the people so that the people's hearts turn to the Army, and the people's strength is integrated into a strong national defense posture.

The policy of building a strong and modern national defense is a vivid expression of our Party's line of national defense and people's war, an independent and self-reliant line, relying mainly on one's own strength, not dependent on, not engaging in an arms race, always upholding peace and justice. The Party's absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the Army and national defense is the key factor, deciding victory in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

That requires Party committees and organizations at all levels in the entire army to continue to strongly innovate leadership methods, improve the capacity to concretize and organize the implementation of resolutions; promote the exemplary role of cadres and Party members, especially leaders; strengthen inspection and supervision work, promptly detect, correct deviations and prevent signs of degradation, "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the organization.

Building a strong and modern national defense is also an opportunity to affirm the mettle, intelligence and role of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense in the process of strategic planning, policy advice, and directing the implementation of national defense tasks in a comprehensive, effective and substantive manner.

The policy of building a strong and modern national defense foundation that the Central Military Commission identified in the draft Political Report submitted to the 12th National Congress of the Party Committee of the Army is a strategic decision, both deeply inherited and demonstrating a breakthrough in thinking, organization and action. This is a symbol of foresight, steadfast political will and determination to protect the Fatherland with the intelligence and combined strength of the entire nation.

The success of this policy cannot come from political will alone, but must be realized through practical actions, through the synchronous participation of the entire political system, and through the responsible participation of all citizens. A strong and modern national defense foundation cannot be formed from administrative orders or individual action programs, but must originate from the hearts of the people, from self-awareness and from the aspiration of the entire nation to rise up.

In the face of the storms of the times, a nation that wants to survive and develop cannot rely solely on passive defense, but must proactively create a strong national defense posture from the roots. That is when each citizen clearly understands his or her role in the cause of protecting the Fatherland. That is when national defense is inseparable from the economy, culture, education, science and technology, environment and diplomacy. That is when national defense thinking becomes an organic part of every national development policy.

LE NGOC LONG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/tien-toi-dai-hoi-xiv-cua-dang/xay-dung-nen-quoc-phong-toan-dan-hien-dai-chu-truong-lon-cua-quan-uy-trung-uong-trong-tinh-hinh-moi-847298