Vietnam Defense Minister Requests Army to Be Cautious to Ensure Social Order

By Vu Quoc Ngu | Aug 12, 2015

The Vietnam People’s Army must be well prepared to deal with all circumstances in order to ensure security and social orders, said Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh.

Speaking at a conference of the Central Military Committee in Hanoi on Aug. 11, General Thanh requested army unit leaders to take all measures to ensure internal protection amid rising social dissatisfaction.

The army has an important work to deal with “reactionary forces”, he noted.

The conference had not discussed new developments in the East Sea, where China has conducted numerous aggressive acts which violate Vietnam’s sovereignty in the resource-rich sea.

Recently, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security have held a number of joint meetings, committing to closely coordinate to ensure social orders.

In late July, China held a large-scale live naval drill in the East Sea, targeting Vietnam in the sea and the U.S. in the East China Sea.

China has constructed numerous artificial islands and military facilities, including a $3 billion airstrip on Truong Sa (Spratlys), one of the two archipelagosVietnam has peacefully administered before the 17th century.

Beijing has sent tens of thousands of fishing boats into the East Sea, which are armed and can open fire every moment, experts said.

Vietnam has verbally protested China’s aggressive moves in the East Sea. However, no specific moves were recorded.