When To Lam was still in the process of rebelling, public opinion paid close attention to the role of Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang. Because only the Minister of National Defense, with his own investigation apparatus, court, and inviolable place for To Lam, could restrain him.
At that time, public opinion paid attention to the meetings between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Minister Phan Van Giang, hoping for a new alliance that could restrain To Lam. But then, those hopes did not come true. To Lam raced to the finish line, winning both the positions of State President and the General Secretary. The winner had been determined.
With great power in his hands, it seemed that Phan Van Giang wanted to remain in his place and not participate in the power struggle. Some people said that General Giang did not want to take risks, and others said that he did not have enough power.
When To Lam became General Secretary, he also held the position of Secretary of the Central Military Commission. When To Lam was not Secretary of the Military Commission, Phan Van Giang still had the opportunity to make a breakthrough. But now it seems impossible, because in terms of the Party in the army, To Lam is Giang’s boss. Not to mention that in the Defense Ministry, there is a Senior Lieutenant General, Deputy Minister and a Lieutenant General, Commander of Military Region 1, who are originally from Hung Yen. These officers will be the eyes and ears of To Lam in the army, and if things go well, they can also remove Giang.
Currently, public opinion is talking about Nguyen Tan Cuong – member of the Party Central Committee, Senior Lieutenant General, Deputy Minister of National Defense, a prestigious figure in the ministry. He is the Permanent Deputy Minister, so it is very convenient to replace Giang, if the latter cannot hold the position of minister.
However, this is only an assessment based on personal prestige. Following Cuong is Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien who is also a member of the Party Central Committee. Gen. Chien is not as prestigious as Cuong, but in return, Chien is originally from Hung Yen. This is considered a formidable opponent of Deputy Minister Cuong.
Remember, in the Ministry of Public Security, Luong Tam Quang was once ranked after Tran Quoc To, but in the end, Quang surpassed To to hold the position of minister. The difference is that Quang is originally from Hung Yen.
With To Lam as General Secretary, not only will the Secretariat be Hung Yen-ized, but it is highly likely that the Defense Ministry will also be Hung Yen-ized. In addition to Gen. Chien, Hung Yen also has Lieutenant General Nguyen Hong Thai, also a member of the Party Central Committee, holding the position of Commander of Military Region 1. With his position in the party, his position in the army, and his rank, Thai would become Deputy Minister soon.
An internal source recently told thoibao.de that General Giang is currently suffering from severe kidney failure. It is likely that he will not be able to continue his second term in the Politburo. Giang’s predecessor General Ngo Xuan Lich, also only served as Minister for one term and then withdrew. It seems that Giang will have little chance to serve another term.
In his new position, To Lam will have a lot of work to do, including consolidating his role as Secretary of the Central Military Commission, so that no opposition force can have a foothold to fight against his Hung Yen group. The Ministry of Public Security is already in To Lam’s hands. To Lam needs to replace Giang if he wants to take control of the army.
To Lam has the advantage of having a fellow Hung Yen native who is a Senior Lieutenant General – Deputy Defense Minister. Gen. Chien has a great opportunity to replace Giang, even though he is not the second in command in the Defense Ministry.
If To Lam and Chien join hands to successfully remove Giang, then there will be no force that can confront To Lam.
Tran Chuong – Thoibao.de
