Tóm tắt Luận án The army’s economic implementation in association with national defense and security in the central highlands (1985 - 2013)

dop (People's Army Publishing House, 1998); Developing Lao People's Army enterprises in the process of building market economy and international economic integration by Vongack Phanthavong (National Economics University, 2010) Many researches on the combination of economic affairs and national defense mentioned the role of the Vietnamese for People's Army in perfomring this strategic task, including: The combination of economy with national defense in Vietnam (People's Army Publishing House, 1980) by Tran Xuan Truong and Nguyen Anh Bac; Issues of economic guarantee for national defense in our country at present (People's Army Publishing House, 1986) by Nguyen Duong and Nguyen Anh Bac; Combination of economy and national defense in our country at present (People's Army Publishing House, 2008) by Tran Trung Tin. In addition, there are quite a lot of articles published in specialized magazines mentioning the Army’s participation in production and economic construction in Vietnam, typically: “Combination of economy with national defense for the country construction and defence in a new situation” in Communist Magazine, Vol. 12 - 1992; "Production and construction of the military economy are inseparable from the revolution line of people's war of the Communist Party" by Dong Si Nguyen in National Economics magazine, Vol. 4 - 2012 8 The above mentioned works and articles have solved many theoretical issues about the army’s participation in production and economic construction in Vietnam. However, the researches did not mention much about activities of the Army participating in socio-economic development, strengthening national defense and security in strategic areas and borders. 1.1.2. Group of research works on economic - defense units of the Army Economic - Defense enterprises have been clarified by a number of works, such as: Vu Thanh Che with thesis of the Vietnamese for People's Army on the cause of building the national economy in the current situation (Political Academy, 1998); thesis of State Management for Economic - Defense Enterprises by Nguyen Xuan Phuc (National Economics University, 2012) ... The Economic - Defense Zone has become a topic taken into consideration with the following works: The Army’s participation in building socio-political bases in the Economic - National Defense Areas (Military Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences - Ministry of Defense, 2007); Development and investment in current economic-defense zones in Vietnam by Tran Manh Hung (National Economics University, 2008); National Defense Economic Delegation implements the current Party and State's national policies by Nguyen Xuan Dai (Political Academy, 2017) There are many articles in specialized magazines providing more information on the construction of Economic - Defense zones such as: Ho Si Hau (2004), "Economic – National Defense Area, an internal source of the country, a core force to solve difficult socio-economic problems in strategic areas”, Journal of Military History, Vol. 12; Do Manh Hung and Ta Minh Tuan (2011), "Discussion on the particulars of the Economic- National Defense Area", Journal of National Defense Economics, Vol. 2; Pham Toan Thang (2010), "Exchange on the model of combination of military enterprises with the Economic - Defense delegation" in the Journal of National Defense Economics, Vol. 3 9 The works have directly mentioned and clarified the contents of the Economic - Defense enterprise, Economic - Defense zone, Economic - National delegation and fairly specifically presented the actual situation of some activities; positively evaluate and proposed solutions on the aspects to improve the effectiveness of these types at present and in future. However, due to the field and subject of the research, the above works have not specified the method of performing the task combining economy with national defense. 1.1.3. The group of researches on military units that carried out economic and defense combination in the Central Highlands Directly related to the research object of the thesis, there are a number of works: 16th Army Corps - 10 years of construction and growth (1998 - 2008) (People's Army Publishing House, 2008), Chronicle of 16th Army Corps (1998 - 2013) (People's Army Publishing House, 2013), History of the Communist Party of 16th Army Corps (1999 - 2019) (People's Army Publishing House, 2018); Coffee Company 15 - Fifteen years – A stage (1996 - 2011) (People's Army Publishing House, 2011); History of Lam Dong people's armed forces (1945 - 2010) (People's Army Publishing House, 2012); History of Company 72 (1973 - 2013) (People's Army Publishing House, 2013); Company Limited 732 - 40 years of construction, growth and development (1973 - 2013) (People's Army Publishing House, 2013); History of Company 74 (1975 - 2015) (People's Army Publishing House, 2015); History of 15th Army Corps (1985 - 2015), (People's Army Publishing House, 2015); Research on combining economic activities with national defense in the Central Highlands region (Ministry of Defense, 2015) The most general research on the issue of combining economy with national defense in the Central Highlands so far is the work combining economic development with national defense in the Central Highlands in the period of 1996-2010 by author Le Nhi Hoa (National Political Publishing House, 2013). In addition, there are also many articles in scientific journals mentioning the military units combining economy and national defense 10 in the Central Highlands: Man Ha Anh (2009), “Construction of economic - defense zone, view from the 16th Army Corps, "National Defense Journal, Vol. 2; Ha Thieu (2010), "In order that Economic- Defense Zone of 16th Army Corps have a stable and firm development, National Defense Journal Vol. 9; Nguyen Xuan Sang (2011), "Corporation 15 overcomes difficulties for sustainable development", Journal of National Economics, Vol. 3; Nguyen Xuan Dai (2014), "Efficiency of propaganda with the population in the Central Highlands region from the model "linking households", Journal of National Defense Economics, Vol. 4 ... Due to the scope and limitation of the article, therefore, it has not really acknowledged and thoroughly assessed the effectiveness of the problem in application and widely deploying effective methods of propaganda, suitable for economic units combined with national defense in the Central Highlands as well as other strategic areas to ensure the overall stability for the whole country. 1.2. THE RESOLVED CONTENTS THAT THE THESIS INHERITS FROM THE RESEARCHES Those works have solved some following basic problems: Regarding theoretical aspect, the works have studied many theoretical issues, confirmed the objectivity of the strategy of combining economy with national defense in the cause of national construction and defense and clarified the indispensable role of the Vietnamese for People's Army in the task of economic development associated with the consolidation of national defense and security in border areas, islands and remote areas. Regarding practical aspect, a number of projects have specifically studied activities such as production and business, building socio- political facilities, strengthening national defense and security; also initially raised some inadequacies of these models. The projects have made valuable proposals to continue promoting the advantages and overcome disadvantages in specific aspects of the military forces in economic construction. 11 There were many projects that have analyzed, handled and clarified a number of factors affecting the implementation of strategies in economic development combined with strengthening national defense and security in the Central Highlands. At the same time, the above projects have also restored the process of formation, development and operation of a number of specific military units, directly undertook the task of economic development in combination with national defense in the Central Highlands. However, due to the influence of the object and the scope of the study, so far, there has not been any study intensively researching systematically the military units performing the economic development task in combination with consolidation of national defense and security in the Central Highlands. 1.3. THE ISSUES CONTINUE TO BE RESOLVED IN THETHESIS On the basis of inheriting the research findings of the related works, the thesis will continue to clarify the following issues.: - Systematically reproducing the process of the army performing the task of economic development associated with national defense and security in the Central Highlands through each stage from 1985 to 2013 under the scientific issues of the concept of "economy combined with national defense and defense combined with economy” proposed by the Party and the State. - Continuing to clarify the nature of the concepts "economy combined with national defense", " Economic - Defense Enterprises", "Economic - National Defense zone", "Economic – Defense Delegation”, - Clarifying the close and interrelated relationship between socio- economic development and national defense-security consolidation in solving topical challenges in the strategic area of the Central Highlands. Since then, the Army’s performance of the task of economic development associated with the consolidation of national defense and security is objectively assessed in terms of both the policy and the implementation process in the Central Highlands from 1985 to 2013. 12 - Confirming effective models, bringing great achievements to military units for economic construction in association with national defense and security in the Central Highlands. - Solving the above issues, the thesis clearly points out the limitations in the process of implementing the policy in which the Army participates in economic production in the Central Highlands region. On the other hand, the lessons learned are drawn, providing some data that can be referenced in the process of making economic development policies associated with strengthening national defense and security in strategic areas throughout the country in general, the Central Highlands in particular. Chapter 2 THE ARMY IMPLEMENTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN COMBINATION WITH CONSOLIDATION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS (1985 - 1998) 2.1. FACTORS AFFECTING THE ARMY'S IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSOLIDATION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 2.1.1. Natural and socio-economic conditions in the Central Highlands 2.1.1.1. Natural condition Addressing the complex impacts of natural conditions is a difficult problem for the exploitation to both obtain effectiveness of economic development 13 potentials and protect natural resources and build a defensive position, people’s security in the border areas of the Central Highlands. 2.1.1.2. Social and economic conditions The socio-economic situation in the Central Highlands still has remained many problems, especially the limitations and deprivations in the life of the local people. To continue overcoming these problems, the Party and the State must step up the socio-economic development strategy, increase vigilance, fight against "Peace evolutions", consolidate the national defense position nation-wide, especially in poor, remote and border areas. 2.1.2. Security - political situation Because of its important strategic location and abundant resources, the Central Highlands has always been a political "hot spot". This situation calls for strengthening the military forces on this strategic borderline, ready to combat and fight against reactionary forces, on the other hand, actively addressinh these issues by combining many fields, politics associated with socio-economy and culture. 2.1.3. The Party's policy on the Army’s economic construction associated with the consolidation of national defense 2.1.3.1. The period before 1985 Right after the end of the resistance war against the French colonialists, the Party and President Ho Chi Minh took advantage of the military forces to participate in production, to carry out the economic development in combination with national defense in an appropriate manner to contribute to overcome the post-war consequences, build up a large northern base, and support the South to continue fighting against the world's leading great nation - the American empire. 2.1.3.2. The period of 1985 - 2013 In the process of renovation, integration, the Party and the State have always paid attention to, adjusted and directed the forces in economic development in the direction of promoting close cooperation between economy and national defense. 2.1.4. Initial results of military units in economic construction 14 combined with national defense in the Central Highlands (1973 - 1985) 2.1.4.1. Takeover of the liberation area for both producing and fighting After the liberation army took control of the North Central Highlands, Corps 773 was established to produce logistics and to protect strategic areas. Corps 773 took over, stabilized the area, for both producing and fighting against forces that undermined revolutionary achivements. 2.1.4.2. Initial construction of economy combined with strengthening, maintaining national defense - security Military forces in the Central Highlands during this period formed the organizational foundation for the birth of the 15th Army Corps, and at the same time, created a number of favorable conditions affecting the implementation of the task of economic development associated with strengthening the national defense of military units locating in the North Central Highlands in the next period. 2.2. THE 15TH ARMY CORPS WAS BORN, A BREAKTHROUGH IN ECONOMIC CONSTRUCTION COMBINED WITH NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY (1985 - 1998) 2.2.1. The establishment of the 15th Army Corps On February 20, 1985, the Central Highlands Economic Construction Troop was established with name of the 15th Army Corps. This was the first unit in charge of combining the economy with the national defense at the level of troops since the country's reunification. 2.2.3. Overcoming difficulties and stabilizing organizational structure, quickly going into production in combination with strengthening national defense and securit It can be seen that, with constant effort, the 15th Army Corps has awakened a border area with great potential for development. These achievements stem from the innovation in the awareness of the 15th Army Corps on the performance of the task of economic construction in combination with the consolidation of national defense - of the army: taking the business efficiency improvement to directly impact the planning and population-social development activities, thereby forming 15 a popular battle, preserving national defense and security in strategic areas. The birth of the 16th Army Corps, the second main Economic - Defense unit in the Central Highlands region, is not simply an increase in the force and production capacity of the army, but is important to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty for the local people, improve the capacity to defend and build a national defense position in the sensitive border areas of the South Central Highlands. From here, the Economic - Defense zones were formed, the army’s economic construction activities combined with national defense in the Central Highlands and the whole country generally entered a new stage of development. 16 Chapter 3 THE ARMY ACCELERATES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS (1998 - 2013) 3.1. ECONOMIC - DEFENSE UNITS HAVE DEVELOPED AND EXPANDED THEIR AREAS FOR PERFORMANCE OF THEIR TASKS (1998 - 2005) 3.1.1. Economic - Defense zones were formed Units entered the stage of accelerating the development of economic- defense zones with the top goal of helping people eliminate hunger and alleviate poverty, solving issues of population, ethnicity and religion in political hotspots, strengthening national defense at the border between Laos and Cambodia. 3.1.2. Units strengthen economic development and stabilize localities in economic-defense zones This is a period of stepping up the implementation of agricultural settlement, hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, raising the living of laborers, companies and regiments, focusing on developing household economy as a prop for people to establish their businesses combined with the right propaganda activities, so the areas of the management units are stable, the political enlightenment awareness of workers and ethnic minorities is increasingly enhanced. 3.2. ECONOMIC - DEFENSE UNITS IMPROVE THE PROPAGANDA, STABILIZE AND DEVELOP PRODUCTION (2005 - 2013) 3.2.1. Changes in the management and organization mechanism of military units combining economy with national defense in the Central Highlands Economic – National Defense units in the Central Highlands region have had some changes in management, business management model. The system of Economic - Defense zones formed along the border from Kon Tum to Dak Nong and continues to be expanded, in order to solve socio-political 17 issues in the area and develop forces preserving security of the areas, continuing migration to settle in “white areas” inland to the border. 3.2.2. Resolving obstacles for economic development, continuing to maintain national defense and security in the area In the period of 2005 - 2013, the Economic – National Defense units in the Central Highlands basically completed the organization and method of implementing the contents of the assigned tasks. The stable economic- defense zone system in the Central Highlands is a factor that positively influences the socio-economic situation, political security of the locality in particular and the economic strategy combined with national defense throughout the country in general. 3.3. SOME MODELS OF ORGANIZATION AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS 3.3.1. Model of the Troops - Corporation The operational organization of this model highlights the following: Regarding organizational structure, at the Troops level - Corporation, the units built a unified apparatus in terms of military and production to undertake the tasks in parallel in the fields of economy and national defense. Regarding production organization, the Economic - National Defense units in the Central Highlands region made concentrated production combined with household economic development. Particularly, in the 15th Army Corps, a production model has been formed: Corporation - Company - Production team - Household. This model creates a strong attachment between the collective economy and the household economy. In terms of type, the units are both military enterprises and economic - defense troops. From this model, the Economic – National Defense units in the Central Highlands are gradually changing their perceptions about the content of combining socio-economic development with the 18 consolidation of national defense and security in strategic areas and boundaries, islands and remote areas. 3.3.2. Central Highlands Economic – National Defense Zone The common point of the Economic - Defense zones is economic development in remote areas, borders, island areas with rugged terrain, harsh climate, underdeveloped infrastructure, where is the main living area of ethnic minorities. The areas of economic-defense zones are also strategic locations for national defense and politically sensitive. The land used for construction of the Economic-National Defense Zone must be bare land, bare hills, and impoverished forests. Economic - Defense zone was created in close attachment with the local people, including local people and migrants. Economic - Defense zones in the whole country are invested and onwned by the Ministry of Defense, economic - defense units are military units directly stationed in the area assigned to be responsible for managing all aspects. The model of Economic - Defense area in the Central Highlands has some differences compared to other places: Firstly, in the Central Highlands, there are Economic - Defense Zones built on a large scale. Secondly, the units directly building the Economic - Defense zone in the Central Highlands are Economic - Defense enterprises. Thirdly, the production methods in the Economic - Defense zones in the Central Highlands are quite diverse and flexible towards the overall efficiency. Economic-national defense zone is a form newly appearing in the process of combining economic with national defense in our country, a typical model unique in the Vietnamese for People's Army. 3.3.3. Model of "Attachment" 3.3.3.1. “Attachment of the units and local government” The strategy of economic development combined with strengthening national defense in the Central Highlands requires many forces to 19 participate and coordinate, in which the army and the local government play a very important role. The model of "attachment" together with other propaganda policies set by economic - defense units in the Central Highlands not only further strengthens the relationship with the local authorities, but also to maintain the achievements of working and production, construction of areas of the unit. 3.3.3.2. “Attachment of production group and teams to hamlets, villages” Through this model, besides helping each other to produce together, work together, mobilize ethnic minorities to receive contracts from the Economic - Defense units, production teams and mass organizations contributed to eliminating the situation of "no party, no union" in the hamlets and villages, building a solid political base of the Economic - National Defense units in the area; helping the government apparatus from commune to hamlet and village step by step be strengthened, advanced in operations, the executing method has been renewed, more flexible, timely captured and solved all problems of the local people. 3.3.3.3. “Attachment of households” Thus, stemming from the aspirations, the direct needs of households living in the same residential areas, the "household attachment " model has become a form of "good propaganda" leanrt and conducted by many units. This activity has brought about practical effects in all aspects of politics - society, economy and security – national defense. 20 Chapter 4 COMMENTS AND SOME LESSONS LEARNED 4.1. COMMENTS 4.1.1. Achievement Firstly, the production activities of the Economic - Defense units have been increasingly effective, meeting the task of economic development associated with the consolidation of national defense in strategic areas. Secondly, the units have planned and relocated the points and residential clusters in combination with building a relatively synchronous infrastructure system, well serving the essential needs of the local people in the border areas, creating new rural faces on remote areas and revolutionary base areas. Thirdly, through production activities, propaganda, the units have improved all aspects of the material and spiritual life of ethnic minorities on the border belt. Fourthly, through propaganda, the Economic - Defense units have become a bridge linking the Party and the local people in remote areas, strengthening the confidence of the local people in the Party's lines and policies, creating position of national defense and security on the border route. 21 Fifthly, the maintenance of Economic - Defense units in the Central Highlands has created a solid foundation for building, strengthening potentials, defense and security - border protection position. Sixthly, economic and defense units in the Central Highlands have found many effective methods to perform their duties, contributing to affirming the soundness in terms of policy of the Party and the State when allowing the Army participate in production, economic construction. 4.1.2. Limitations Firstly, some strategic areas have been strengthened in terms of security and national defense but still weak in economy, not yet promoting their potential strengths. S