Hostile forces have been actively exploiting our Party and State’s policy of streamlining organisational structures to spread distorted and subversive narratives aimed at sabotaging the prestige and role of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA). Although this tactic is not new, it poses a serious threat, requiring constant vigilance and resolute countermeasures.

In alignment with the policy of streamlining organisational structures intended to eliminate redundancies and enhance operational efficiency, the VPA has been implementing force adjustments based on both general directives and functional requirements. This is an entirely sound policy designed to build a lean and strong VPA advancing towards modernity as required by the cause of national construction and defence in the new context. However, adversarial elements, including political opportunists and reactionary groups, have seized on this legitimate reform to spread malicious disinformation. Through fringe media and social networks, they have circulated deceptive claims, such as: “The VPA is no longer necessary”, “The VPA should be drastically downsized to reduce the budget burden”, or “The VPA should be removed from the Party’s leadership”.

Naval soldiers during a joint exercise (photo: cuuchienbinh.vn)

These forces often misinterpret a principle from Marxism - Leninism stating that “the military is a historical category”, twisting it to imply that the existence of the military is necessary in wartime only. They argue that in times of peace, the military is unnecessary, and therefore, military organisations should be dismantled as part of the organisational streamlining. They go so far as to claim that military activities only drain the economy without offering any benefits. Additionally, these forces often repeat the familiar rhetoric that “the military should be politically neutral”, insisting it should not engage in politics and should only serve the State instead of being subject to the leadership of any political party.

It is evident that through such deceptive rhetoric, hostile forces aim to erode and depoliticise the VPA. Their ultimate objective is to deprive the VPA of its political and ideological strength, thereby weakening its combat power, and strategic mission, rendering it incapable of fulfilling its role as the core force in defending the socialist Fatherland. This is the shortest path to neutralising the VPA as the Party and State's powerful violent instrument in the cause of national construction and defence. Through these subversive narratives, hostile forces seek to open the door for foreign interference and ultimately facilitate the overthrow of the socialist regime in our country. In the immediate term, they aim to negatively influence the awareness, ideology, and sentiments of a segment of the population and military personnel. By sowing confusion, doubt, and mistrust in the Party’s leadership and policies, they hope to distort perceptions, manipulate attitudes, and induce actions that undermine efforts to build a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modern VPA.

These arguments are entirely unfounded, rooted in theoretical misinterpretation and divorced from historical and practical realities. On this matter, Marxist - Leninist theorists have made it clear: “The military is an organised force of armed individuals funded by the State to carry out offensive or defensive warfare”. Thus, the existence of the military is inseparably linked to that of the State; it will cease to exist only when the State itself no longer exists. Moreover, when examining the relationship between the economy and the military, Marxist - Leninist scholars emphasise a dialectical connection. In this regard, “nothing is more dependent on economic prerequisites than the army and navy themselves”, while at the same time, the military contributes significantly to economic development. This underscores the vital role of the military in protecting the very State that creates it. The combat strength of the military is always tied to the nation’s economic and social conditions. The military's organisational restructuring stems from the country's practical demands at different historical stages. There is absolutely no theoretical or practical basis for claiming that “the military is no longer necessary”. On the contrary, the military’s role is even more vital today, given the requirements of national development and the increasingly complex global and regional security environment.

In analysing the origins and nature of the military, Marxist - Leninist theorists have consistently asserted that the military is created and led by the ruling class of a given society. There is no such thing as a politically “neutral” or classless army. The military is inherently a class-based institution and an instrument of armed violence used to safeguard the interests of the class that establishes and sustains it. Therefore, in any class-based society, no military can be “politically neutral” or stand above class interests. V.I. Lenin was unequivocal in this regard: “The military cannot and should not be neutral. The slogan of keeping the military out of politics is the cry of hypocritical lackeys of the bourgeoisie and the Tsarist regime, who in practice always involved the military in reactionary politics”. During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh further reinforced this perspective, stating: “Our Army is invincible because it is a people’s army built, led, and educated by our Party”. These affirmations highlight the inescapable truth that the political and social nature of the military is ultimately determined by the class it serves. As a fundamental component of the State, the military plays a vital role in the implementation of the State's policies. "Politically neutral" militaries are without precedent in human history. The lesson of the Soviet Red Army in the late 1980s remains highly relevant when it comes to efforts to depoliticise the armed forces. Accordingly, any advocacy of the military becoming “politically neutral”, “standing above or outside politics”, or  “not interfering in politics” is groundless and conceal malicious political intentions that run counter to national interests.

As a sharp instrument of violence of our State, the armed forces in general, and the VPA in particular, play an increasingly important role in maintaining a peaceful environment, thereby facilitating socio-economic development. The VPA fulfils its function as "an army ready for combat”, serving as the core pillar in building all-people national defence and a robust people’s war posture, resolutely and persistently defending the Fatherland under all circumstances. At the same time, the VPA effectively performs its function as "an army ready for work" in disseminating the Party and the State’s guidelines and policies among the people, assisting localities in economic development, helping people stabilise their livelihoods and improve their living standards, and reinforcing public trust in the Party’s leadership and the success of Doi Moi. Furthermore, the VPA takes on the role as “an army ready for production”, making significant contributions to fostering national development and improving the material and spiritual well-being of the people and its staff members. In line with this, the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the Ministry of National Defence have thoroughly grasped the Party’s viewpoint on combining defence with economic growth. The CMC has issued many resolutions, directives, and guiding documents to lead the armed forces in promoting their capacities for production and economic development. Military units have actively participated in agricultural production, closely cooperating with local party committees and authorities in carrying out plans and projects for economic, cultural, and social development in strategic areas in terms of defence and security. These efforts not only enhance national defence capabilities but also serve as a powerful driver of economic and cultural progress, helping to build a robust “people’s hearts and minds” posture and forming a solid foundation for strong all-people national defence and people’s security posture. Over more than 80 years of construction, combat, and growth, the VPA has remained a trusted pillar for the Party, State, and people in the cause of national construction and defence. Military cadres and soldiers have always thoroughly grasped the Party’s revolutionary ideals and willingly made heroic sacrifices for the people’s happiness, both during the previous struggle for national liberation and in the ongoing nation-building cause. This is an undeniable reality.

Our nation is now entering a rising era. More than ever, this is the time for the Socialist rule-of-law State of Vietnam to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of social governance, aiming to maximise all resources for national development along the socialist path. Given ongoing economic challenges and limited defence budget, the organisational restructuring is essential to making the VPA lean, strong, and modern. However, those who argue for a “radical reform of the VPA to reduce the budget burden” offer a one-sided and superficial view. They either fail or refuse to grasp the dialectical relationship between the components of being lean and being strong in the Party and State's goal of building the VPA. This process is not simply about reducing troop numbers or merging units to cut costs. Instead, it is a comprehensive effort to streamline the structure, thereby enhancing the VPA's combat readiness under new conditions.

Crucially, one foundational principle must always be upheld: the Party exercises absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership over the VPA. As a sharp instrument of violence of the Party and the State, the VPA must always clearly recognise and correctly identify partners and adversaries, creatively apply and develop our traditional military art, and maintain a close-knit bond with the people. Doing so is conducive to generating comprehensive strength that enables the VPA to stand ready for combat, secure victories, firmly defend the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and maintain a peaceful and stable environment for our country’s rise.

Col. PHAM NGOC NHAN, PhD

Military Academy of Logistics