The more streamlined the army, the stronger it must be.

VietNamNet spoke with Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung, former member of the Party Central Committee and former Director of the National Defense Academy.

80 years ago, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army - the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) was established. After 80 years, the Army has made great efforts, made new marks, and performed well its functions as a fighting army, a working army, and a production labor army. Could you please comment on the development steps of the VPA?

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung: It can be said that the 80-year history of the Vietnam People's Army has developed very uniquely, that is, the continuous growth, becoming stronger and stronger, the more we fight, the more we win and the bigger the victory, not ups and downs like other events.

The Vietnam People's Army has grown from small to large, from small force to regular force, and from less modern to relatively modern and then to modern. Our army has grown and developed continuously, creating the tradition of the heroic Vietnam Army.

From 34 soldiers in "brown pants, cloth shirts" in the early period with a very small guerrilla team, it later developed to the company, battalion, and regiment levels. During the resistance war against France, it established large divisions including six infantry divisions, one artillery division, and several main regiments, with hundreds of thousands of troops. During the resistance war against the US, our Army continued to mature, becoming a regular Army, increasingly modern, including the Army, Navy, Air Defense - Air Force, and the birth of main army corps.

With steel fists from when we opened the first battles such as Phai Khat and Na Ngan to the Viet Bac Autumn-Winter Campaign in 1947, the Border Campaign in 1950, the Winter-Spring Strategic Offensive (1953-1954) with the peak being the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory "famous in five continents, shaking the world" and ending the resistance war against France with a very large campaign, the General Uprising to seize power nationwide, making the August Revolution of 1945 a success.

The same thing happened in the resistance war against the US, from small to large campaigns, such as the victories of Ap Bac, Binh Gia, Dong Xoai, Ba Gia, Nui Thanh, Van Tuong... the General Offensive and Uprising of Mau Than Spring 1968, the Victory of Route 9 - Southern Laos, the Victory of Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air, the Great Victory of Spring 1975 with the peak being the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

Thus, it can be affirmed that the Vietnam People's Army is developing continuously, the next generation continues the tradition of the previous generation to grow stronger and meet the country's requirements in all circumstances.

Nowadays, young officers are trained more thoroughly through a systematic educational environment, and are organized, drilled, trained, and equipped with more modern and systematic weapons and equipment.

In the recent article "Vietnam People's Army - National Pride", General Secretary To Lam affirmed the need to focus on building a truly clean, strong, disciplined, elite, and modern People's Army to meet the requirements and tasks in the new era, the era of development and prosperity. What is your opinion on this assertion of the General Secretary?

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung: The General Secretary's assessment is very correct. Since its inception, our army has always been absolutely loyal to the Party and the people; ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism; completing every task, overcoming every difficulty, defeating every enemy.

As the country moves forward into a new era, the Army must also move forward to be suitable for the task of protecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the new situation. This includes the task of building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern Vietnam People's Army, on par with the region and the world.

In terms of ideology, the Army is always strengthened in training to be absolutely loyal to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the people. In terms of weapons, equipment, and means, it is increasingly equipped with modern means to discourage the enemy and make them give up their intention of invasion and aggression when they see the armed forces, the heroic Vietnamese Army.

In particular, we must build solidarity and cooperation with other countries, make more friends and fewer enemies, and be ready to be friends with all countries, including those that were former enemies.

MAN FIRST, GUN LATER

Building a “refined, compact, and strong” Army is one of the key and urgent contents of military and defense work in this term and the following years, aiming to create a solid foundation to strive to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern Army by 2030. What is your assessment of this issue?

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung: Our Party has determined that by 2025, we will build a "refined, compact, and strong" People's Army, creating a solid foundation for building a "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern" People's Army by 2030. This is a major, important, correct, and urgent policy, demonstrating the Party's vision and strategic thinking for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, ensuring that the Army is capable of successfully completing all assigned tasks.

At the end of 2023, the 12th Corps - the first main Corps was reorganized and established on the basis of predecessor units with a long history of glorious traditions of the 1st and 2nd Corps. Most recently, in mid-December, the 34th Corps was established on the basis of the 3rd Corps - Tay Nguyen Corps and the 4th Corps - Cuu Long Corps, which are units with a long history and glorious traditions.

Only "refined, compact, strong" can become "regular, elite, modern". "Refined" here means elite soldiers, elite cadres, elite quality. "Small" here means a compact but strong formation. Lacking the word "strong" is not acceptable. Being compact is easy, but being compact must be refined and strong.

This is a big problem so the Army is working on it step by step. In my opinion, the first step is to merge the Corps to create a new Corps as is being done. It cannot be done hastily, we must carefully study the combat plan to organize the force to suit the new combat situation, especially in the context of modern combat.

Since ancient times, our ancestors have drawn many lessons on military building, including the view that building a standing army of the nation is "essential to quality, not quantity". In addition, there is the lesson of "ngu binh u nong" - normally they are the people, but when war breaks out, they are soldiers... The coordination between the three forces: militia, local army, and main force army creates the strength of people's war in protecting the Fatherland.

The General attended the opening ceremony and visited the second Vietnam International Defense Exhibition. What are your feelings about the exhibition and the achievements and developments of Vietnam's defense industry?

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung: I am very proud of the current defense industry. In the defense industry, we are not "formidable" yet, but the current young generation has researched technologies that prove to the world that Vietnam is fully capable of catching up with modern levels. Vietnam is fully capable of successfully responding to modern types of warfare.

Strengthening the defense industry also contributes to building a regular, elite revolutionary army, gradually advancing to modernity by 2030.

I was very impressed with the display of products researched and produced by the Military Industry - Telecommunications Group (Viettel). These military products are new generation weapons, a trend of high-tech warfare.

In defending the Fatherland, strength is shown in people, people master science, weapons and equipment. The army only relies on weapons and equipment without the human factor, it cannot create strength and practice has proven that. With the motto "people first, guns later", it is necessary to constantly pay attention to and take care of building high-quality human resources; linking the building of a lean, compact and strong army with innovation in training and education.

Thank you, General!