The Vietnamese army is conducting a live-fire exercise in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh, and according to experts, this move is in response to China’s aggressive behaviors.
On April 8, news of a live-fire drill by the Vietnamese army was reported by the state-controlled media.
This information is disclosed indirectly through the announcement of Phu Cat Airport in Quy Nhon and the Vietnamese airline – Vietnam Airlines – about adjusting flights to and from this airport, due to the exercise.
Neither the People’s Army Newspaper nor the website of the Ministry of National Defense published any information about this exercise.
The live-fire exercise was announced to take place on April, 11-21 just four days after the information was revealed, thus increasing the surprise of the operation.
It was not until April 14 that details of the exercise appeared in the newspapers.
According to the Zing newspaper network, on April 12-13, the Vietnamese Air Force practiced bombing ground targets at the TB-2 Shooting Range in Binh Dinh province, with the participation of modern fighters such as Su-27.
This is believed to be an entry in a series of live-fire operations that will last until Apr 21.
The question is, why is the Vietnamese army holding a sudden live fire at this time, and why in the area of Binh Dinh province?
Talking to Radio Free Asia via email, Dr. Huynh Tam Sang, a lecturer in international relations at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, explained the above questions as follows:
“The exercise that is currently taking place can be interpreted as an implicit signal of the Hanoi government’s determination to protect its sovereignty and security.”
Mr. Sang also pointed out that this move came right after China held a surprise live-fire exercise in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Tonkin area.
The Vietnamese side also voiced its objection to China’s drills through its Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman.
As for the location of the exercise, Mr. Huynh Tam Sang explained that Binh Dinh is a strategic location.
“The location of the exercise suggests that Vietnam considers defense capacity building to be extremely important to its security. Binh Dinh is a province with an important geopolitical position because it is the gateway to the sea of the Central Highlands, southern Laos, and northern Cambodia.
In addition, this international relations expert also said that the international security environment, specifically the Russia-Ukraine war, was also a factor that forced Vietnam to take action to demonstrate its self-defense capability itself, he said:
“Russia’s war in Ukraine creates a very important message for Vietnam, that in order to ensure national security, preparation for future situations needs to be a top priority.
With this live-fire exercise, Vietnam wants to show that it is prepared for any contingencies affecting national security, especially situations in the East Sea [South China Sea].”
Earlier in March, the US military said that the Chinese side had completed the militarization of at least three artificial islands it occupied in the South China Sea, where China has a sovereignty dispute with neighboring countries, including Vietnam.
These islands are equipped with advanced weapons systems such as anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter aircraft.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
