The Vietnam People's Army

"Abuza casts a bright light on a pivotal aspect of Vietnam's future trajectory ... and its important implications for the region and the world. Prashanth Parameswaran, Wilson Center

Can the Vietnamese military, which decades ago defeated the French, the Americans, and the Chinese, move away from its tradition of "people's war" to adapt to both the realities of modern warfare and the emergence of new threats? As he addresses this question, Zachary Abuza delves into the inner workings of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and its efforts to develop its military capabilities. He also explores the role of the VPA in Vietnamese society, in the region, and in the global arena.

CONTENTS:

• The Challenges of Military Modernization in Vietnam.
• Strategic Culture.
• A Party-Army.
• The Ministry of National Defense.
• Budgets and Business.
• The Armed Services.
• Civil-Military Relations.
• Defense Diplomacy.
• Defense Cooperation with the United States.
• Sowing Seeds of Doubt?