Resolution No.35-NQ/TW of the Politburo (the 12^th Tenure) affirms that firmly safeguarding the ideological foundation of the Party is the foremost critical task of the entire Party, the military, and the people. In alignment with this directive, the Political Academy has systematically implemented a range of measures to fulfil this vital mission, reaffirming its role as the core force within the Army in the struggle to steadfastly defend the Party’s ideological foundation.

As a centre for training and fostering political cadres, scientific personnel, lecturers, as well as for research, application, and development of social sciences and humanities, the Political Academy (under the Ministry of National Defence) has, over the years, thoroughly grasped and effectively implemented Resolution No.35-NQ/TW, dated 25 October 2018, of the Politburo (the 12^th Tenure) on “Strengthening the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation and combating wrongful and hostile views in the new context.” This has contributed to affirming and elucidating the revolutionary and scientific nature, as well as the immense value and significance of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; highlighting the achievements of the Party, the State, the Army, and the people across various spheres of social life; and exposing the nature, schemes, and tactics of hostile forces seeking to undermine the Vietnamese revolution.

Officer of the Political Academy receives A Award in the Writing Contest on the Party's ideological foundation in 2024 (Photo: qdnd.vn)

At present, the global and regional landscape continues to evolve in a complex manner. Our country is entering a new era marked by significant events and emerging theoretical challenges. Hostile forces persist in advancing their “peaceful evolution” strategy through increasingly sophisticated and insidious tactics. This presents formidable challenges and demands in the ideological and theoretical struggle. Building upon the achievements attained thus far, and to further enhance the effectiveness of the struggle to safeguard the Party’s ideological foundation, the Political Academy continues to intensify the implementation of Resolution No.35-NQ/TW of the Politburo (the 12^th Tenure) in accordance with Conclusion No.89-KL/TW, dated 25 July 2024, of the Politburo (the 13^th Tenure), with the following key focal points:

Firstly, strengthening leadership and direction in propaganda, education, and awareness-raising for the implementation of the Resolution. The Academy’s Party Committee and Directorate have determined that combating and refuting wrongful and hostile viewpoints, while firmly safeguarding the Party’s ideological foundation, is both an urgent task and a strategic, long-term, complex, and challenging mission. This necessitates resolute, regular, and continuous leadership and direction to ensure that the task is carried out in a more structured, unified, comprehensive, in-depth, and substantive manner. With this determination, the Academy remains focused on leading, directing, and thoroughly educating its personnel so that all cadres, Party members, and its entire staff fully grasp the significance and necessity of Resolution No.35-NQ/TW. This effort is integrated into the regular leadership resolutions of Party committees and organisations at all levels. At the same time, the Academy enhances the operational quality and advisory capacity of the Party Committee’s Steering Committee 35 and its specialised personnel, ensuring that the Academy’s leadership, direction, and implementation remain timely, precise, flexible, relevant, and effective. Regular reviews, updates, and refinements are made to plans, regulations, and methodologies for countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints, ensuring a comprehensive and synchronised approach. The Academy establishes specific targets and tasks tailored to each department, faculty, and unit. Emphasis is placed on inspecting and evaluating the quality and effectiveness of efforts to safeguard the Party’s ideological foundation and to counter wrongful and hostile viewpoints within agencies and units. Additionally, the Academy ensures rigorous interim and final reviews, draws lessons from practical implementation, and promptly commends and rewards collectives and individuals who excel in executing Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW. Through these measures, a unified understanding is reinforced: firmly defending the Party’s ideological foundation and effectively countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints is a fundamental, critical, and existential element of Party-building and rectification. It is the foremost priority of the entire Party, military, and people, with the Political Academy positioned as the vanguard, and political cadres serving as the core and mainstay in this struggle.

Secondly, intensifying fundamental research to provide scientific foundations for safeguarding the Party’s ideological foundation and countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints. This is not only a strategic and long-term solution but also a core function and primary mission of the Academy in the ideological and theoretical work within the Army. Accordingly, the Academy continues to promote research efforts to reaffirm and clarify the scientific basis, theoretical value, and practical significance of the fundamental principles of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the Party’s guidelines and viewpoints in the new context. At the same time, it supplements and develops new theoretical issues in alignment with the realities of national development and Army building. The focus is on researching, elucidating, and affirming the theoretical advancements achieved by the Party over 40 years of national renewal; the Party’s and the people’s political resolve in the “revolution” to streamline and refine the administrative apparatus; efforts to combat corruption, misconduct, and wastefulness; and clarifying theoretical and practical aspects of the new era - an era of national resurgence. Additionally, the Academy analyses and forecasts the key issues that hostile forces are likely to exploit and intensify their subversive efforts in the near future. Based on these insights, it establishes scientific arguments as a foundation for refuting wrongful and hostile viewpoints, particularly those aimed at undermining Party congresses at all levels, leading up to the 14^th National Congress of the Party. Furthermore, the Academy continues to conduct research and propose solutions to contribute to strengthening the political and spiritual capabilities of the all-people national defence strategy and to ensure the ideological and political strength of the Vietnam People’s Army. The priority is to enhance the quality of political education, ideological training, ethical development, lifestyle discipline, solidarity, democracy, and adherence to military regulations, while resolutely combating manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Army.

Thirdly, closely integrating the mission of safeguarding the Party’s ideological foundation and countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints with education, training, and scientific research. This is an objective necessity, ensuring that these tasks remain unified and inseparable, serving as both the foundation and outcome of one another. The Academy continues to direct its agencies to effectively coordinate in providing advisory input and recommendations, ensuring a comprehensive approach from the very outset of curriculum development for various training programmes. This includes designing research topics, scientific conferences, specialised studies, and the compilation of textbooks and teaching materials. On this basis, the Academy mandates that all lectures, examination content, and assessments be directly linked to the task of countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints and defending the Party’s ideological foundation. This approach ensures a “dual effect” - on one hand, compelling lecturers to continuously explore new issues, enhance the combative nature of their teachings, and make lessons more engaging and compelling for learners; on the other hand, encouraging learners to be proactive, self-disciplined, and actively engage in discussions, thereby deepening their understanding and strengthening their confidence in the Party’s leadership. At the same time, the Academy places strong emphasis on leveraging the role of scientists and lecturers in guiding students’ research activities, thesis writing, and dissertations. These efforts are strategically oriented towards research topics that involve ideological and theoretical struggles, thereby fostering analytical skills, practical experience, and methodological approaches for ideological and theoretical combat. This, in turn, equips graduates with the necessary competencies to fulfil their roles effectively in their respective agencies and units upon completion of their studies.

Fourthly, expanding and professionalising the ideological struggle force. Alongside enhancing the effectiveness of core and specialised units, the Academy continues to leverage the expertise of specialists, scientists, lecturers, and experienced researchers, encouraging their proactive participation in academic conferences and scientific forums. These experts are actively engaged in conducting research projects, compiling scientific works, authoring books and articles, and contributing to the ideological and theoretical battlefield. The Academy also motivates and encourages young lecturers and researchers to capitalise on their agility in media and social networks, playing an active role in countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints in cyberspace. Additionally, it fosters the engagement of specialised teams within departments, faculties, and research institutes to participate in this ideological struggle. These include expert groups dedicated to writing for books, newspapers, and academic journals; commentary teams responsible for sharing and amplifying critical articles; and multimedia teams producing video clips for platforms such as YouTube and blogs to diversify the modes of ideological combat. At the same time, the Academy takes the initiative to expand cooperation, fostering exchanges of information and experiences in ideological and theoretical struggle with relevant organisations and institutions, particularly media agencies, publishers, and the press. Furthermore, it actively encourages and recognises the contributions of lecturers, researchers, and staff who participate in media programmes aimed at countering the “peaceful evolution” strategy on newspapers and television, both within and beyond the military. These efforts contribute to shaping public discourse, guiding ideological awareness, and reinforcing the Academy’s credibility and influence.

Finally, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of submissions to the Writing Contest on the Party’s Ideological Foundation. In recent years, this competition has been rigorously and seriously deployed by the Academy, achieving numerous high distinctions and playing a crucial role in strengthening the ideological struggle against wrongful and hostile viewpoints. It has also significantly contributed to affirming the Academy’s role and reputation within the military and across the nation. Building on these achievements, the Academy continues to innovate the competition’s format and organisational methods to ensure practicality and effectiveness, with a particular focus on improving quality at the grassroots level. The Academy leverages the role of advisory teams and scientific councils in guiding content selection, reviewing and assessing the quality of submissions, and providing feedback to refine and enhance entries from departments, faculties, and units. It also encourages and capitalises on the expertise of lecturers, scientists, and promising authors to develop in-depth, high-value submissions with sharp theoretical arguments, strong practical significance, and contemporary relevance. Party committees and commanders at all levels are expected to provide comprehensive support, ensuring optimal conditions for both individuals and groups to participate in the competition. Special attention is given to material and technical resources, as well as training in journalistic, radio, and television skills, enabling core teams to collaborate effectively in producing diverse and high-quality entries. Through this competition, outstanding works are selected as valuable resources for teaching, scientific research, and propaganda efforts aimed at defending the Party’s ideological foundation. These contributions play a timely and effective role in countering wrongful and hostile viewpoints.

With a clear understanding of its mission and under strict leadership and direction, the Political Academy remains committed to implementing Resolution No.35-NQ/TW of the Politburo with the highest sense of responsibility and the best possible outcomes. This effort will further solidify the Party’s ideological stronghold within the Army, strengthen the political integrity of the armed forces, and ensure the successful fulfilment of all assigned tasks.

Major General, Associate Professor, PhD NGUYEN BA HUNG, Political Commissar of the Academy