Thoroughly grasping the Party’s strategic directive on developing provinces and municipalities into strong defensive zones, Lang Son Province has been vigorously and synchronously implementing multiple measures to harness the combined strength of all forces in fulfilling this vital mission - thereby meeting the requirements of national defence in the new situation.

Lang Son is a mountainous, border province adjoining Guangxi Province (China). It occupies a strategically important position in terms of economy, foreign relations, national defence, and security; it serves as the “protective shield” safeguarding the northeastern gateway of the Fatherland. Recognising this significance, in recent years, the Provincial Military Command has actively advised the Provincial Party Committee, the People’s Council, and the People’s Committee in leading and directing relevant departments, sectors, and local Party committees and authorities to thoroughly internalise the resolutions and directives of the Party, the State, and the Ministry of National Defence on military and defence tasks - particularly on the building of the provincial defensive zone. Accordingly, numerous programmes and plans have been promulgated and implemented in a rigorous and effective manner, in accordance with the guiding principle: “socio-economic development must be closely linked with strengthening national defence and security, with the people’s defence posture as the foundation.”

Leader of the Provincial Military Command checks the drill of new recruit

At present and in the near future, the political and security situation in the province is forecast to remain fundamentally stable; the economy will continue to grow; and national defence, security, and foreign relations will be further consolidated and strengthened. However, in remote, isolated, and socio-economically disadvantaged areas, the uneven level of awareness among ethnic minorities makes them susceptible to exploitation by hostile forces. In both urban and rural areas, latent security risks must not be underestimated. Moreover, the recent and ongoing adjustments to administrative boundaries and the two-tier local government structure have created new issues for military and defence work and for the construction of the provincial defensive zone. In this context, Lang Son has determined to continue adhering closely to the Party’s guidelines and orientations, fully mobilising the combined strength of all forces - especially the core role of the armed forces - and focusing on building a solid and comprehensive provincial defensive zone. This will be achieved through the following principal measures:

Firstly, to promote the leadership and direction of Party committees and local authorities at all levels, thereby building a provincial defensive zone strong in political and spiritual foundations. Accordingly, the Provincial Military Command coordinates closely with departments and sectors to advise the Provincial Party Committee, the People’s Council, and the People’s Committee in leading and directing Party committees and local authorities at all levels to continue thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the resolutions and directives of the Party, the State, and the Ministry of National Defence on consolidating national defence and safeguarding the Fatherland. On that basis, specific plans and action programmes are to be formulated, containing scientifically grounded and locally appropriate guidelines and measures. Particular attention must be paid to enhancing the quality of political and ideological education, as well as the training and dissemination of knowledge on national defence and security for cadres, Party members, the population, and the provincial armed forces. Priority must be given to building Party committees and organisations that are pure, strong, and capable - with high leadership capacity and combat effectiveness - to ensure the effective implementation of the Party’s and the State’s guidelines, and the province’s policies on socio-economic development, national defence, security, and foreign affairs. This effort is especially crucial in the implementation of the ongoing reform to streamline the political system and the two-tier local government structure. Consistent attention must also be given to consolidating the great national unity bloc among ethnic communities and to strengthening the relationship of “peace, friendship, cooperation, and development” with neighbouring regions. In parallel, the Provincial Military Command must continue to coordinate closely with relevant departments and sectors to review and develop detailed plans for the education and training of national defence and security knowledge for various groups following Party congresses and People’s Council elections at all levels - ensuring that the process is rigorous, scientific, and properly targeted. Through these efforts, a strong sense of consensus and confidence will be fostered among cadres, Party members, and the population in the leadership and direction of Party committees and local authorities in implementing socio-economic development tasks in close association with strengthening national defence and security. Furthermore, the role of the armed forces must continue to be upheld in defending national sovereignty and border security, while promptly detecting, combating, and defeating the schemes and tactics of “peaceful evolution,” preventing “self-evolution” and “self-transformation,” and countering all attempts by hostile forces to divide and weaken the great national unity bloc.

Leader of the Provincial Military Command checks the preparation for the defensive area exercise in real ground

Secondly, to mobilise all available resources to accelerate economic, cultural, and social development as a foundation for building a strong provincial defensive zone. Located at the gateway of Vietnam on two key economic corridors - with two international border gates, one bilateral gate, nine auxiliary border crossings, and an international railway link – Lang Son Province possesses significant advantages for socio-economic development. These advantages provide the potential for the province to become a modern, dynamic, and environmentally sustainable (“green”) economy, achieving rapid growth within the northern region. Fully aware of this, the Provincial Military Command continues to advise provincial authorities to lead and direct localities in harmoniously combining socio-economic development with the consolidation and strengthening of national defence, security, and foreign affairs, in accordance with the Party’s orientation. Particular attention is given to promoting the distinct potential and advantages of each region; investing resources in the construction of transport infrastructure; accelerating administrative reform; and creating a favourable investment and business environment to attract investors. Efforts are focused on developing three key economic zones as growth drivers, thereby generating financial and material resources for defence and security, particularly for the construction of a robust provincial defensive zone.

Close coordination is maintained with relevant functional agencies to review and advise the province on adjustments to the overall master plan for integrating national defence with socio-economic development. Economic development plans, projects, and proposals - especially those in key border-gate areas and industrial zones such as the VSIP Industrial Park - are subject to rigorous appraisal. The province attaches great importance to tightly linking the development of infrastructure and digital transformation across departments and sectors with the infrastructure and digital transformation serving defence and security missions, ensuring that every step in economic development simultaneously represents a step in strengthening national defence and security. The Provincial Military Command also provides advice on reviewing and adjusting the military posture within the provincial defensive zone to align with the reorganisation of commune-level administrative boundaries and the two-tier local government structure. It coordinates closely with departments, sectors, and forces to mobilise all available resources and allocate appropriate budgetary funding for continued investment in military infrastructure construction according to established plans and roadmaps. Furthermore, the Province’s armed forces are directed to uphold their dual role as both a “working army” and a “production army,” actively participating in strengthening local political foundations, assisting the people in developing the economy, eradicating hunger, reducing poverty, and improving material and spiritual living standards. Through these efforts, a firm “people’s heart-and-mind posture” is being built, generating comprehensive strength for the effective implementation of defensive zone construction, consolidation of national defence, and protection of the Fatherland from the grassroots level.

Thirdly, to complete the planning and construction of a firm and in-depth military posture within the provincial defensive zone. On the basis of the military defensive posture of Military Region 1 and the Province’s overall socio-economic development master plan, Lang Son continues to synchronously implement comprehensive solutions to build a solid military posture within the provincial defensive zone. Priority is first given to consolidating and finalising the province’s operational determination in line with the directives of the Military Region. The provincial authorities direct regional defence command committees and commune- and ward-level military commands to take over and protect combat works, fortified clusters, border militia posts, and cave systems within the provincial defensive zone that have been renovated and repaired. The Province also coordinates closely with relevant forces to review and adjust the planning of military works following the reorganisation of district-level governments. Focus is placed on re-evaluating and modifying the layout and positioning of logistics-technical bases, fortifications, defensive emplacements, and strongpoints to develop investment, upgrade, and repair plans suited to the Province’s operational posture and defensive determination. Efforts are being made to mobilise all available resources and prioritise budgetary allocations for the construction and reinforcement of key defence works - including command headquarters, rear bases, core defensive areas, and border combat posts - to form a continuous, solid, and in-depth military posture capable of ensuring readiness for all defence and security contingencies.

Practice of evacuation in the defensive area exercise

Finally, to build comprehensively strong armed forces with high overall quality and combat capability, serving as the core in the construction of the provincial defensive zone. This is a fundamental, pivotal solution - the decisive factor determining the quality and effectiveness of all activities related to defensive zone construction. Accordingly, the Provincial Military Command, in close coordination with the Provincial Public Security, advises the provincial authorities in directing the building of an armed force that is strong in political steadfastness, ideology, ethics, organisation, and leadership; properly sized, yet possessing comprehensive quality and a high level of combat readiness. The force must truly serve as a loyal and reliable political and combat force of the Party committees, local authorities, and the people. Efforts are focused on improving the operational effectiveness of commune-level military commands and regional defence command committees; enhancing the quality of training and exercises for all units - especially command-staff exercises for regional defensive zones as directed by the Military Region. Local self-defence and militia units are to be reorganised following administrative mergers, in accordance with new circulars and guidelines, ensuring they are strong, widely established, suited to local characteristics, and capable of handling all defence-related contingencies. The regional defence command committees are directed to receive and train reserve forces in line with approved plans. The Province also implements effectively the policy of providing senior-level political theory training for military cadres, ensuring sufficient qualifications to meet the requirements of building a capable, disciplined, and politically firm officer corps in the new context.

In parallel, the Provincial Military Command continues to work closely with relevant agencies to advise provincial authorities and direct departments, sectors, and mass organisations in performing external relations - particularly defence diplomacy - in accordance with the Party’s and the State’s orientations. These activities are conducted on the basis of international law, mutual respect, and understanding, for the purposes of peace, stability, and development. Through these efforts, the Province strengthens its comprehensive power and effectively handles defence and security contingencies, ensuring strategic initiative and preventing surprise.

Building a firm provincial defensive zone is a long-term, comprehensive process requiring the unified participation of the entire political system and the people, with the armed forces as the core. Therefore, the armed forces of Lang Son Province will continue to uphold their sense of responsibility, promote their core role, and maintain unity and determination to overcome all difficulties - working alongside Party committees, local authorities, and people of all ethnic groups in the province to further consolidate the provincial defensive zone and safeguard peace and stability along the northeastern “protective shield” of the Fatherland.

Senior Colonel MAI XUAN PHONG, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Commander of Lang Son Provincial Military Command