The year 2009 is about to end with special events. On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22), VietNamNet reviews these events.

This is the third time the country has published its White Book on National Defense, following the 1998 and 2004 editions.

For the first time, Vietnam made its military budget public: over 27 trillion dong, equivalent to 1.8 percent of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2008.

The book expresses the fundamental viewpoints on Vietnam’s national defense policy and its defense management mechanisms. It also details the structure of the Ministry of Defense, the organization and development of the Vietnam People’s Army and civil defense forces.

The book describes cooperation policies, demonstrating Vietnam’s desire to improve mutual understanding and trust between the Vietnamese military and people and the armies and peoples of other countries.

The White Book outlines the current situation in the world regarding regional and national security and the challenges ahead for Vietnam’s defense. It emphasizes a trend of peace and cooperation in international relations.

According to the White Book, total number of permanent soldiers is 450,000. The book also provides information about the national defense structure and arms, including major changes in defense over the last five years.

For the first time, Vietnam’s defense cooperation policy is divided into specific categories, including anti-terrorism and participation in United Nation’s peace-keeping activities like search and rescue maneuvers.

The book’s appendix supplies useful information about Vietnam’s overseas military attaches, major institutes and schools of the army, economic-defense zones, the list of the army’s agreements on borders and territories.

Participating in global security issues

As an elected member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Vietnam consulted the opinions of non-aligned countries and member countries of the UNSC to make decisions about international security issues.

Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh visited the US and France to discuss bilateral cooperation. Vietnam and France reached agreements to set up a high-ranking joint committee to implement strategic military cooperation programs between the two countries.

Vietnam has established official defense relationships with 65 countries and placed defense attaches in 31 countries. Forty-two countries also have defense attaches stationed in Vietnam.

Naval matters

Photo: Nhan Dan

Two Chinese naval ships coded 755 and 756 visited Hai Phong recently, marking the third visit of Chinese naval ships and the first exchange with Vietnam’s navy under the framework of the joint Sino-Vietnam patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Other navies landed at Vietnamese ports, including two Indian naval ships in Hai Phong, ships of Singapore, Brazil and Thailand in HCM City and naval vessels from France, Russia and the US in Danang.

Vietnamese Defense Minister visits the US

Photo: VNA

General Phung Quang Thanh, Minister of Defense, paid his first official visit to the US from December 10-15. He is the second Vietnamese Minister of Defense to visit the US since the end of the Vietnam War.

Minister Thanh and State Secretary Robert Gates agreed that the armies of Vietnam and the US will deepen their cooperation, focusing on sharing information and experiences in training military students and observers. The two sides agreed to continue joint efforts in dealing with the war’s consequences, monitoring typhoons, and conducting sea-based search and rescue work.

Vietnam and the US have carried out 97 searches and excavations of the remains of American MIAs in Vietnam. Vietnam has returned 894 sets of remains of American soldiers, including four sets on December 2, 2009. The US has also provided information that led to the discovery of nearly 1,000 of the 300,000 Vietnamese MIAs.

Vietnam orders Russian submarines

Vietnam agreed to buy submarines and aircraft from Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport. The deal was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, during PM Dung’s visit to Russia from December 14-15. Vietnam also officially invited Russia to help in building the nation’s first nuclear power plant.

Defense cooperation with ASEAN

Minister of Defence Phung Quang Thanh (green) at the informal meeting of ASEAN Defence Minister (photo: VOV)

Vietnam has pushed up its defense cooperation with the ASEAN under the programme to build the ASEAN Politic-Security Community. Vietnam will chair ASEAN in 2010.

Consolidating the civil defense

With the Law on Civil Defense approved at the 6^th National Assembly session in November, the militia is the major force for rural areas to protect the authorities, lives and assets of the people, state assets, build the national defense and prevent plots against the State.

The largest makeover of military uniforms

As of December 22, 2009, the Vietnam People’s Army will wear new uniforms. This is the largest change in military uniforms and has been used on a trial basis at some Defense Ministry agencies since April 30, 2009. Olive-green will be the major color of the new uniforms, however, the shade will differ based on rank.

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