HANOI, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Vietnam's Communist Party chief has warned senior army officers the country is a prime target for hostile forces seeking to sabotage and subvert the socialist regime.
In a speech published on Thursday in the official Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, General Secretary Le Kha Phieu also praised the army for its contribution in defeating plots by enemies to sabotage the country's political stability.
"Our country is building socialism...therefore hostile forces have considered our Fatherland as a prime ground for their continuous actions aimed at sabotaging, undermining, transforming and overthrowing (the regime)," Phieu told a party congress held by Vietnam's armed forces.
He did not give any examples of the alleged plots.
Phieu also called for more focus on the quality of the army and urged a frank review of the shortcomings and mistakes of the military.
"We have established that the army has never degenerated in a political sense. But we are not sure whether the army will maintain its reliable and firm political sensitivity when confronted with new requirements and more complicated and severe situations," he said.
Phieu previously served in the army for 40 years and reached the rank of Lieutenant-General before taking the post as the Communist Party's top leader.
His remarks came as Vietnam prepares for the Party's ninth national congress in March, which will set the political and economic agenda for Vietnam for the next five years.