PANO – Colonel Do Minh Thai, Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Navy, had an interview with reporter of the People’s Army Newspaper before leading the Vietnamese delegation for the coming 2014 Komodo multilateral naval exercise in Indonesia.
Colonel Do Minh Thai, Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Navy
Reporter : What are Vietnam’s expectations in this exercise?
Colonel Do Minh Thai: As we know, the Southeast Asia is often buffeted by natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. Each country by itself could not surmount the heavy disaster consequences, such as tsunamis hitting Indonesia and Thailand or typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines last year. Hence, the regional nations should join efforts to deal with such disasters.This is the first time the Vietnam People’s Navy has sent troops to join such an exercise in an ASEAN member country, showing its wide and deep integration to the region and the world, as well as its responsibility to the international community.
The naval force is seen as a name card of a nation. Therefore, our participation in the event is to popularize the image of a dynamic and friendly country of Vietnam to regional and international friends. We will do our utmost to contribute to the success of the exercise.
Reporter : How many events will Vietnam take part in at the exercise?
| * Vietnamese ship heads for Komodo exercise * Vietnam Navy ready for Komodo exercise |
Colonel Do Minh Thai: We will participate in two activities during the exercise. Firstly, on Batam Island, the Vietnamese troops will be divided into three teams to conduct a command drill on nautical chart and a drill to deal with mock situations at headquarters, and report plans before going to the high sea, including the tasks of engineering and military medical forces.
Secondly, the hospital ship HQ-561 will head for Natuna Island. There, the engineering troops will help the locals build a road while the military doctors will provide health check-ups for local people.
Reporter : Why does Vietnam choose the HQ-561 to join the exercise?
Colonel Do Minh Thai: Vietnam People’s Navy has only few ships that can participate in the event, but the HQ-561 is the most appropriate choice. This combination of a transport ship and a hospital ship, equipped with modern medical facilities like a normal hospital, can operate for a longer time at sea than the others.
Reporter: How do you feel about being the head of the Vietnamese delegation to join the multilateral exercise for the first time?
Colonel Do Minh Thai: It is my honour to participate in such a big exercise. We have well prepared for the event and are determined to complete all assigned missions.
Reporter : Thank you very much!
Translated by Van Hieu
Đăng ký: VietNam News
