Combating Disinformation to Protect Party Integrity

In the lead-up to Vietnam’s 14th National Party Congress, security officials have identified a coordinated campaign by opposition forces to undermine the event by targeting personnel affairs and attempting to fracture party unity.

Intelligence sources report that these groups are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to sow discord within the Communist Party of Vietnam, particularly by creating artificial divisions between various factions and governmental bodies.

“The primary objective isn’t merely to damage individual reputations,” said a senior Party official who requested anonymity. “It’s a strategic effort to weaken internal cohesion and disrupt the bond between the Party, military forces, and citizens.”

The 14th National Party Congress represents a critical juncture in Vietnam’s political landscape, as delegates will select key leadership positions for the 2026-2030 term from among the country’s more than five million Party members. Such transition periods traditionally attract heightened attention from both domestic and international actors.

Security experts have noted a tactical shift in disinformation campaigns, moving beyond regional divisions to target professional backgrounds of senior officials. These operations now attempt to pit different sectors of government against each other, with particular focus on creating tension between military and security apparatuses.

“They’re specifically targeting what President Hồ Chí Minh described as ‘the two arms’ of the state – the Vietnam People’s Army and the People’s Public Security Force,” explained Dr. Nguyen Van Minh, a political analyst from Hanoi National University. “By attempting to drive a wedge between these institutions, opposition groups hope to weaken the entire governmental structure.”

The metaphor dates back to March 3, 1959, when President Hồ Chí Minh used the term “two arms” to describe the complementary relationship between these security forces during a ceremony establishing what would later become the Border Guard Command.

Vietnam’s integrated security approach relies on the army safeguarding the nation’s borders and sovereignty, while public security forces maintain domestic order and protect political institutions. This dual-pronged strategy has been central to Vietnam’s stability for decades.

The 13th National Party Congress clearly established national security priorities: “To firmly safeguard national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; to protect the Party, the State, the people, the socialist regime, national culture and national interests.”

In response to these challenges, security forces conducted comprehensive rehearsals earlier this month in Hanoi. The January 10 exercises demonstrated the government’s determination to maintain order during the upcoming Congress.

The official slogans for the 14th Congress prominently feature “Solidarity – Democracy – Discipline – Breakthrough – Development!” with solidarity deliberately positioned first, underscoring its paramount importance in the Party’s hierarchy of values.

Vietnamese authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution regarding unverified information on social media platforms. Officials are particularly concerned about fabricated news designed to manipulate public sentiment around personnel decisions and create artificial rivalries between government branches.

“These divisive tactics represent nothing new in political disruption,” noted Dr. Tran Quoc Hung, a security studies expert. “What’s changed is the sophisticated use of social media as a delivery mechanism and the strategic targeting of institutional relationships rather than just individuals.”

The government has implemented enhanced cybersecurity measures in anticipation of the Congress while emphasizing the need for unity as essential to the nation’s continued stability and development.