Strengthening the national defense posture early and from afar

That heroic tradition became the foundation for the Military Region's armed forces to firmly enter the new period, firmly upholding the viewpoint of "protecting the Fatherland early and from afar", "protecting the country before it is in danger", building a national defense posture associated with a people's security posture, and a solid people's hearts posture in the area.

Heroic tradition, the foundation of immortal strength

On October 16, 1945, amid the seething atmosphere of the revolutionary autumn days, implementing President Ho Chi Minh 's Directive, the armed forces of Military Region 5 were established. In the difficult early days, the young force shouldered the sacred mission: Protecting the revolutionary government, maintaining the newly won national independence and laying the foundation for the long-term resistance of our army and people.

During the resistance war against French colonialism, the army and people of Zone 5, together with the whole country, waged a comprehensive, all-people war, fought more than 15,000 large and small battles, eliminated hundreds of thousands of enemies, destroyed and captured many weapons and equipment. These feats contributed significantly to the resounding victory of Dien Bien Phu, which shook the world and forced the French colonialists to sign the Geneva Agreement, restoring peace in Indochina.

During the 21 years of resistance war against the US, Military Zone 5 was one of the fiercest battlefields in the South. Many resounding victories took place here: Dak Ha (1961), Na Nieu (1962), Ky Sanh (1964), Ba Gia (1965), Nui Thanh (1965)... Each victory was a turning point on the battlefield, at the same time affirming the indomitable will, ingenuity and creativity of the army and people of Zone 5. The peak was the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of Mau Than 1968, the Strategic Offensive in 1972, directly contributing to the Great Victory of Spring 1975, completely liberating the South and unifying the country.

After the country was reunited, the Military Region's armed forces continued to successfully complete the task of protecting the southwestern border, performing the noble international duty of helping the Cambodian people escape the disaster of genocide, and coordinating with the Lao army and people to destroy the reactionary forces. Inland, the Military Region's armed forces resolutely fought to suppress FULRO, maintaining political security and social order and safety in the area. Each stage left a bright mark of heroic tradition, which is a solid foundation for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland today.

Strengthening the "protecting the country before it is in danger" strategy

Entering the period of deep international integration, the Military Region's armed forces continue to affirm their mettle, intelligence, and steadfastness with the Party's goals and ideals. In the face of complex changes in the world and regional situation, and intertwined traditional and non-traditional security risks, the Party Standing Committee and the Military Region Command thoroughly grasp the viewpoint of "Protecting the Fatherland early and from afar"; "protecting the country when it is not yet in danger".

The work of grasping and forecasting the situation has been raised to a new level, combining field information with scientific analysis, ensuring a correct assessment of the nature, avoiding passivity and surprise. Combat readiness plans and strategies have been supplemented and improved regularly, closely following the characteristics of strategic areas. Coordination with local Party committees, authorities, police, border guards, coast guard and other forces has been promoted, creating a solid national defense posture associated with a solid people's security posture.

Along with staff work, the Military Region's armed forces focus on training according to the motto "basic, practical, solid", attaching importance to the reality of modern warfare. The exercises of defense zones, civil defense, and joint services are organized with increasing quality, focusing on electronic warfare and high-tech warfare. Thereby, the combat capability, comprehensive strength, and situation handling ability of the troops are increasingly improved, meeting the requirements of protecting the Fatherland in all situations.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the image of officers and soldiers of the Military Region setting up thousands of quarantine checkpoints, carrying bags of rice and gifts to people in remote areas has left a deep impression in the hearts of the people. These actions affirm that the Military Region's armed forces always put the people at the center, turning the oath "forgetting oneself for the people" into concrete and vivid actions. That is also a clear demonstration of the mindset of "forecasting to act", protecting the Fatherland from the roots, from early on, from afar.

Mass mobilization work, ethnic and religious policies, and military rear areas were deployed synchronously and effectively. Zone 5 troops were present in all regions: overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, rebuilding houses after storms, accompanying people in economic development, building new rural areas... These simple actions created a solid "people's hearts" position, closely and firmly connecting the army - people, fish - country.

Proud of tradition, confident in the future

Inheriting the 80-year heroic tradition, the Military Region's armed forces continue to thoroughly grasp the position and role of the task of consolidating national defense and maintaining national security; grasp the guiding viewpoints, goals, directions, and tasks of national defense and security in protecting the Fatherland "early, from afar", "protecting the country when the country is not yet in danger", especially the viewpoints of the 13th National Party Congress; the Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation; Vietnam's National Defense Strategy; Vietnam's Military Strategy; Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in cyberspace and newly issued specialized strategies.

The Military Region's armed forces resolutely fight to defeat all plots of "peaceful evolution" and riots and overthrows by hostile forces; at the same time, proactively prevent manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the military. Military Region 5 strengthens defense diplomacy with Military Region 1, the Royal Cambodian Army and Division 5, Military Commands of 4 Southern Lao provinces, Military School No. 2 Vieng Xay, building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Looking back over eight decades of building, fighting and maturing, from a young force in the early days of the revolution, the Military Region's Armed Forces today have become a "sleek, compact, strong", disciplined, elite, and gradually modernized collective. That achievement is the result of the wise leadership of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the Standing Party Committee, the Military Region Command, the close bond between the army and the people, and at the same time is a testament to the steadfastness and creative intelligence of generations of officers and soldiers. In particular, the revolution of streamlining the organizational apparatus, building the Military Region associated with the two-level local government model has been and is showing clear effectiveness, creating unity, flexibility, and enhancing the overall strength of the Military Region's Armed Forces in the new period.

Promoting the tradition of "Self-reliance, self-strengthening, overcoming difficulties, enduring hardships, being resourceful, creative, fighting steadfastly, and winning gloriously", the Military Region's armed forces are determined to join the entire Party, people, and army in building and firmly defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, consolidating the posture of "Protecting the Fatherland early and from afar", "protecting the country when it is not yet in danger".

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-tri/cung-co-the-tran-bao-ve-to-quoc-tu-som-tu-xa-20251015213333571.htm