Vietnam Army Ready for “Internal Complicated Situations”: Defense Minister

Vietnam Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich

Vietnam Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich

The Vietnam People’s Army will closely coordinate with authorities in localities to settle complicated situations to ensure the country’s stability, said Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich, who was promoted to the post in mid-April.

By Vu Quoc Ngu, June 14, 2016

The Vietnam People’s Army will closely coordinate with authorities in localities to settle complicated situations to ensure the country’s stability, said Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich, who was promoted to the post in mid-April.

Speaking at a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency, General Lich, who is a member of the ruling communist party’s Politburo, said the army will remain absolutely loyal to the ruling party.

His speak implies that the army is ready to closely coordinate with the police forces to deal with any uprising which may threaten the leadership of the communist party.

He also said that the country will invest more in the army’s units which are assigned to protect the country’s borders and islands and sea waters.

Vietnam has been ruled in decades by the communist party which relies on the police forces and army in maintaining their power.

The police forces have been intensified crackdown over local political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders. In some cases, army has also been deployed by authorities in ensuring social orders.

Vietnam has violently suppressed spontaneous peaceful demonstrations, including protests against China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea).