Implementing the defence and military work is a regular and essential task of the party committees, governments, armed forces and people in order to build a strong all-people national defence, firmly safeguarding the Fatherland in the new situation. Thoroughly understanding this, Lai Chau Provincial Armed Forces have been intensely implementing this crucial task with synchronous and effective solutions.

Lai Chau is a mountainous and border province, which has an important strategic position in defence and security in the Northwestern region of the country. It is characterised by rugged terrain, divided traffic, low density and uneven distribution of population, etc.

Over the past few years, despite considerable efforts, Lai Chau still appears to be a poor province with the slowly-developed socio-economy and low living standards. This is one of the main regions which has been intensely sabotaged by the hostile forces. Clearly understanding this, Lai Chau armed forces have brought into play their core roles to give proactive coordination, consultation and direction; together with all party committees, governments and people within the province implemented the local defence and military work with scientific and suitable solutions, and gained significant results. Noteably, consulting and directing the implementation of the local defence and military tasks have been seriously and strictly conducted, mobilising the participation of the entire political system, forces and the people; the all-people national defence, the all-people defence posture in association with the people’s security posture and potential of defensive zones’ posture, especially in major areas and borders, have been consolidated; the political security, social order and safety in the region have been firmly maintained; the Provincial armed forces have been built strongly in all fields, well bringing into play the core roles in implementing the local defence and military tasks, etc.

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence, discusses the building of defensive area with leaders of Lai Chau province

In forthcoming time, the Province is forecast to have a relatively-stable political situation with the economy being on the way of continuous development and the people’s lives being gradually improved, etc. However, hostiles and reactionary forces continue to take advantage of issues related to nations and religions to foster their sabotage, separate the great national unity bloc, etc. In addition, the organisational streamlining of the political system and the building of 2-level local governments also have direct effects on the organisation, staff and activities of the Provincial armed forces. To continuously perform the local defence and military work, the Provincial Military Party Committee and Command have been making their leadership and direction on synchronously implementing solutions, focusing on the following ones:

Firstly, continuing to improve the quality of advising the all-level party committees and governments to lead and direct the implementation of the defence and military work, meeting the task requirements in the new situation. Based on the thorough grasp of the Party’s defence and military viewpoints and guidelines, and the seniors’ resolutions, directives and instructions, the Provincial Military Command leads the coordination with agencies, departments and industries to advise the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council and People’s Committee to issue documents directing the local defence and military tasks suitably with the conditions and features of the regions, focusing on strengthening the state management on defence; fostering the building of the strong all-people national defence, all-people defence posture combined with people’s security posture, the “people’s hearts and minids posture” in particular, in the region. Based on the 5-year review of the implementation of Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ -CP dated 22 February 2019 by the Government on the defensive zones, the Military Command advises the Province to intensely build the solid Provincial defensive zone. It is firstly to check and adjust the plan on military postures in defensive zones; strengthen the organisation of the Provincial defensive zone; adjust, supplement and complete the system of operation documents and plans of defensive zones, civil defence, etc., making them suitable with the adjustment of administrative boundaries, the merge of communes and the dismiss of districts.

Together, the Military Command continues to advise the party committees and governments to lead and direct the socio-economic development combined with strengthening the potential of defence, security and foreign affairs according to the Party’s orientation; focuses on developing the key economic sectors, investing into traffic infrastructure, dual-purposed projects for socio-economic development, and ensuring the defence and security tasks; continues to advise the Province to mobilise all sources to implement the building of defensive works, combat works, training grounds, commanding positions for militia in borders, headquarters for communal military commands, combat bases, rear bases, etc., being ready to meet the requirements of building and performing the defensive tasks.

Secondly, promoting the education and further training of defence and security knowledge for all learners. The Provincial Military Command continues to bring into play the roles as the permanent agency of the Defence and Security Education Council, closely coordinates with offices, services and departments to consult the Province in leading and directing the consolidation and improvement of working efficiency for the Defence and Security Education Council at all levels, especially in the communal levels after the mergence. At the same time, it holds further training courses to improve the knowledge, working skills and methods for presiding cadres and the ones who are in charge of the defence and security work, and for the reporters and propagandists at all levels. The Provincial Military Command continues to direct offices and units to check and classify learners who need to be further trained with defence and security knowledge after the all-level party congress, build the execution plans in echelon, focusing on extended and specialised learners, and assuring the quality and effectiveness.

The Provincial Military Command closely coordinates with the Education and Training Department to direct schools to promote the defence and security education for students; continues to coordinate with the radios and presses in the Province to sustain the columns of “Lai Chau Defence”, “For border sovereignty and security”, “Legal dissemination”, etc. to propagandise and educate the defence and security knowledge to the whole people, especially the ethnic minorities in remote and mountainous areas and borders, improving the awareness and responsibility for cadres, party members and people in doing the local defence and military tasks, protecting the sovereignty of national borders, maintaining the political security, social order and safety from the grassroots levels.

Conducting joint patrol

Thirdly, continuing to build strong armed forces to be the core in implementing the local defence and military tasks. To make this happen, the Provincial Military Command coordinates closely with the Police to advise the Province to make intense leadership and direction on building the armed forces which are strong in politics, ideology, morality, organisation and staff, have a proper structure, high overall quality and combat readiness, being a reliable political force and absolutely loyal combat force of the local party committees, governments and people. Based on the seniors’ directions and instructions on streamlining the organisations of the political system, the Provincial Military Command continues to adjust and strengthen the organisation and staff of the permanent forces in the “elite, compact, strong” way, ensures the strength of forces which are doing the combat readiness tasks and units in key regions and borders, at the same time, improves the efficiency and effectiveness in advising, coordinating, guiding and organising the implemenattion of the local defence and military work, especially when the district military commands have been dismissed; pays attention to building the strong and high quality reserved forces, which are registered, managed and arranged properly in specific areas, being ready for carrying out their duties when ordered. The Provincial Military Command continues to well implement the Project of “Organising forces, training and ensuring policies for the militia and self-defence forces within Lai Chau province in the period of 2026-2030”, assuring their strength, effective activities and correct functions; especially, well arranges the contingent of cadres of the communal military commands after the mergence under the seniors’ instructions without any interruption directly affecting the quality of task completion at the grassroots levels. Together, the Provincial armed forces strictly maintain the order and combat readiness; proactively build, complete and intensify the training period according to the determination, combat plans of defensive zones and plans of natural calamity mitigation, search and rescue, at the same time, closely coordinate with the Police and Border Guard according to Decree No. 03/2019/NĐ-CP by the Government, being ready to effectively solve all defence and security situations without any passiveness and unexpectedness.

Fourthly, actively taking part in building the strong political establishments; eradicating hunger, alleviating poverty and building new rural areas. The Provincial Party Committee and Military Command closely coordinate with all departments, agencies and unions to review and classify the political establishments which are not yet strong, making plans to send cadres to hold the situations and timely solve any arising incidents and problems, assuring not to create any flash points or complex areas of security; continue to maintain and improve the working quality and effectiveness of all military party cells after the mergence in order to strengthen the leadership of the Party committees over the local defence and military work.

Together, the Provincial armed forces continue to bring into play their role as “an army ready for work and an army ready for production”, and actively take part in developing the socio-economy, eradicating hunger, elliviating poverty and building new rural areas; promote the movement of “The Army joining hands to build new rural areas” with practical and detailed programmes and activities such as: building roads in rural areas, upgrading and repairing the public works, etc. Instantly, the Provincial armed forces coordinate with the agencies, departments and unions to complete the goal of eradicating all temporary and dilapidated houses by the end of 6/2025 according to resolutions of the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Council, creating a new image of the border area of the Fatherland, etc.

Bringing into play the achieved results, Lai Chau armed forces together with the local party committees, governments and people are determined to effectively conduct the local defence and military work, build the Province strong in economy, defence and security, contributing to successfully accomplishing the cause of building and safeguarding the Fatherland in the new situation.

Senior Colonel DANG VINH THUY, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command