Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam. It is the highest party organ exercising absolute, direct leadership over the People's Army of Vietnam and the national defence apparatus. The commission ensures the military remains under the party's command, guiding all strategic defence, security, and military policies. Its decisions are supreme within the Vietnamese military and are implemented through the state's executive bodies.

History

The commission's origins trace back to the Military Commission of the Party Central Committee, established in late 1945 during the early days of the First Indochina War. It was formally constituted in February 1946 under the leadership of Hồ Chí Minh and Võ Nguyên Giáp to direct the Viet Minh's armed struggle against French Union forces. Throughout the Vietnam War, it commanded military strategy under figures like Lê Duẩn and Văn Tiến Dũng, overseeing campaigns such as the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. Following the Fall of Saigon and reunification, it guided the People's Army of Vietnam through the Cambodian–Vietnamese War and the Sino-Vietnamese War. Its role was constitutionally enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Vietnam, solidifying the "Party leads, State manages" principle over the military.

Organization and structure

The commission is organized under the direct authority of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and, ultimately, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Its core is a small leadership body, typically including the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam as Secretary, the Prime Minister of Vietnam as Deputy Secretary, and key military figures. It operates through a dedicated standing apparatus, the Office of the Central Military Commission, which coordinates daily activities. Subordinate bodies include the Party Committee of the Ministry of National Defence and party committees within major units like the Vietnam People's Navy, Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Border Guard. This structure ensures party control permeates all echelons, from the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army to regional commands.

Functions and responsibilities

The commission's paramount function is to decide on all fundamental principles, strategies, and major policies concerning national defence, military building, and the protection of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This includes directing the development of military doctrine, determining the structure and size of the People's Army of Vietnam, and approving plans for modernisation and weapons procurement. It oversees the ideological education and political reliability of the armed forces, ensuring loyalty to the Communist Party of Vietnam. The commission also plays a critical role in formulating policies related to national security, territorial waters, and responses to regional disputes in areas like the South China Sea. It directs the military's role in socio-economic development and disaster response.

Leadership

Leadership of the commission is vested in the highest party and state officials. Since 2011, the Secretary has been the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, a position held successively by Nông Đức Mạnh, Trương Tấn Sang, and currently Nguyễn Phú Trọng. The Deputy Secretary is typically the Prime Minister of Vietnam, such as Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and the incumbent Phạm Minh Chính. Other key members include the Minister of National Defence, currently Phan Văn Giang, the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and the Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army. This composition ensures unified command between the party, government, and military.

Relationship with the Ministry of National Defence

The commission and the Ministry of National Defence (Vietnam) operate under the principle of unified party leadership. The commission sets strategic direction and major policies, while the ministry, as a state executive body, is responsible for their organisation and implementation. The Minister of National Defence (Vietnam) is invariably a senior member of the commission and the Party Committee of the Ministry of National Defence, ensuring direct transmission of party directives. This relationship is exemplified in the chain of command, where the commission's decisions on matters like promotions of senior officers or engagement in operations like United Nations peacekeeping are executed through the ministry's apparatus, including the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and service branches.