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In the early spring of 1979, a sudden war began on the southern border of China. Although this conflict between China and Vietnam was only a brief glimpse in the long river of history, it left a profound impact, especially on Vietnam. While the world's attention is focused on the military operations of the two countries, Vietnam has experienced a series of deep-seated "invisible" losses that go far beyond the artillery fire and smoke on the battlefield.
As the smoke of war gradually dissipates, what is overlooked are the invisible, profound losses that affect the core of a nation. Vietnam, once a predominantly agrarian country among the small countries in Southeast Asia, has suffered more than just human casualties.
The background of China's self-defense counterattack against Vietnam
On February 17, 1979, Chinese troops crossed the border and rapidly advanced into northern Vietnam. The military operations were carried out quickly and directly, and the Chinese troops were mainly concentrated in the provinces of Guangxi and Yunnan, which border Vietnam, and the geographical location made it natural to carry out military operations. China's military objectives are limited, mainly to strike at the border areas, forcing the Vietnamese government to reassess its military policy toward Cambodia.
In the initial phase of the offensive, the Chinese troops met stubborn resistance from the Vietnamese troops. Although the Vietnamese army was inferior to the Chinese in equipment and size, they fought on their own soil and had a deep understanding and use of the terrain. The mountainous and jungle areas of northern Vietnam provided good cover and ambush opportunities for the Vietnamese army, which hindered the advance of the Chinese army. During the advance, the Chinese army had to clear mines along the way and make tactical adjustments to adapt to the terrain and tactics of Vietnam.
As the conflict continued, the two armies engaged in fierce fighting at several important points in the border area. The intensity of the fighting was reflected in the use of heavy fire, such as artillery and mortars, on both sides. Vietnam's border towns such as Lao Cai and Dong Hung have been the focus of fighting, and these areas have suffered severe damage, with many civilian installations and houses destroyed in the fighting.
In the air of the war, China also sent fighter jets to carry out air strikes on Vietnam, with the aim of destroying Vietnam's logistical supply lines and military command facilities and reducing the pressure on ground troops. The establishment of air superiority provided important support to the Chinese military, but it also led to casualties and property damage among the Vietnamese population.
Although the conflict was short-lived, it had far-reaching consequences for northern Vietnam. Many towns and villages have been badly damaged by the conflict, with infrastructure such as bridges, roads, and power systems damaged, and large numbers of people displaced, all of which are the result of the inadequacy of Vietnam's anti-China clique led by Le Duan.
The impact of the war on the Vietnamese population
The 1979 war of self-defense against Vietnam had far-reaching consequences, especially the massive loss of population, which was concentrated in working-age males. According to official statistics, more than 100,000 laborers were killed in the war, a figure that was a severe blow to the still developing country at the time.
Most of these people lost in the war were rural peasants and urban workers, who were the main force of Vietnam's economic production. The loss of these people has had a direct impact on Vietnam's agricultural and industrial production, resulting in a significant decline in productivity. Agriculture, a pillar industry of Vietnam's economy, has been particularly affected. Vietnam is a predominantly agricultural country, and agricultural production relies on a large amount of manpower for planting, harvesting, and processing. The drastic reduction in the labor force during the war left much of the farmland deserted, unable to be planted and harvested in a timely manner, resulting in a significant reduction in food production.
In addition, Vietnam's industrial base was weak, and during and after the war, the operation of many factories was severely affected due to the lack of sufficient labor, and production efficiency declined. This has not only affected the supply of the domestic market, but also reduced Vietnam's export capacity, further exacerbating the economic woes. The decline in the production of industrial products, such as textiles and household appliances, has been a long-term obstacle to Vietnam's economic development and modernization process.
The impact of war goes far beyond the economic dimension. Socially, many families lost family members to the war, especially male members. The breakdown of these families not only affects the daily life of the families, but also has an impact on the stability and development of society. In Vietnam's traditional culture, men are usually the main labor force and breadwinner of the family, and their loss has left many families in economic hardship, losing a stable source of income, increasing the burden of social welfare, and exacerbating social inequality and poverty.
economic consequences and military dependence
The war caused long-term damage to the economic structure of Vietnam, especially in the military and agricultural sectors. Vietnam was highly dependent on the Soviet Union for military support and technology in the post-war years, and this support was abruptly interrupted after the collapse of the Soviet Union, seriously affecting Vietnam's military self-sufficiency. The Soviet Union provided not only military equipment, but also technical and training support, which Vietnam lacked in its own production of military equipment. As a result, Vietnam's military industry suffered a severe blow and could not guarantee the production of even the most basic military equipment, such as tanks and artillery.
At the same time as the disruption in the production of military equipment, Vietnam's defense capability was directly affected. The lack of tanks and other heavy weapons limited the Vietnamese army's operational scope and tactical execution, making national defense more dependent on imported equipment, increasing the country's economic burden. In addition, the repair and maintenance capabilities of the Vietnamese army have been greatly weakened by the lack of technical support, resulting in a shortened service life and reduced effectiveness of many existing equipment.
The losses in agriculture and livestock were equally severe. According to the People's Daily, 60 percent of livestock was wiped out in the war, dealing a major blow to Vietnam's agriculture-based economic system. Livestock is not only an important part of agricultural production, providing the necessary power and fertilizer, but also an important asset in the rural economy, which has a direct impact on farmers' living standards and spending power. The massive loss of livestock has led to a reduction in agricultural output, a threat to food security, and a sharp decline in the quality of life of farmers.
Another direct consequence of livestock losses is a decline in agricultural productivity. Vietnamese agriculture is highly dependent on livestock, such as buffalo and cattle, for farming and transporting agricultural products. The decline in the number of livestock has prevented much arable land from being cultivated in a timely manner, affecting the planting and harvesting cycles of crops and thus the efficiency of the entire agricultural production chain. In addition, the high number of livestock deaths has led to shortages in the supply of meat, dairy products, and other animal products, increasing food prices and exacerbating inflationary pressures.
Economic collapse and accumulation of external debt
In 1980, Vietnam faced a food deficit of up to 2 million tons, a huge gap that exposed the fragility of post-war economic infrastructure and low productivity. The severe decline in agricultural production, coupled with the massive loss of livestock resources, has made domestic food production far from meeting the basic needs of the people. In this context, the per capita food supply has fallen to extremely low levels, with the reported monthly food supply of residents in most parts of Viet Nam being only about 10 kilograms, well below normal needs.
Food shortages have a direct impact on people's quality of life and social stability. In cities and villages, food prices have skyrocketed, inflation has risen, and the cost of living has risen sharply. Against this backdrop, the Vietnamese government had to increase food imports in an attempt to alleviate the food shortage, which in turn increased the country's financial burden.
In 1981, Viet Nam's external debt problem worsened. According to statistics, Vietnam's total external debt reached US$3.5 billion, a figure of more than one-third of GDP that year. Most of these debts came from international loans borrowed before and after the war to support economic development and national defense. Vietnam's high debt costs Vietnam huge amounts of interest and principal each year, further squeezing the government's fiscal space for education, health and infrastructure.
The accumulation of external debt has not only increased the country's financial burden, but also limited the government's choice of economic policies. In order to repay its external debt, the Vietnamese government has been forced to cut its investment in social welfare and public services, which in turn affects the overall well-being of society and the long-term development of the economy. At the same time, strict lending conditions imposed by international lenders and foreign governments, such as requiring Vietnam to undergo economic restructuring and market opening, have put Vietnam under more external pressure to implement domestic economic policies.
Economic stagnation and the pressure of foreign debt have sparked widespread discontent and social unrest at home. In the dire economic situation, the Vietnamese government had to seek international assistance and began to implement a series of economic reform measures, including easing restrictions on private enterprises, encouraging foreign direct investment and improving the competitiveness of domestic industries. These measures are aimed at reviving economic growth, increasing employment and improving people's living standards, but in the short term, the effectiveness of the reforms has been limited due to severe infrastructure damage and a lack of human resources.
The setback of the industrialization process
Post-war Vietnam faced multiple economic difficulties, the most critical of which was that it missed a critical period of industrialization. In the second half of the 20th century, industrialization was seen as a central factor in the modernization and competitiveness of countries in the global economic landscape. Many Asian countries, such as South Korea and Taiwan, have successfully transformed into high-income economies by pursuing industrialization strategies in the 1970s and 1980s. However, due to the war and the widespread devastation it brings, Vietnam failed to implement an effective industrialization policy during this critical period.
During the post-war reconstruction, Vietnam's economic infrastructure was devastated, with many factories and equipment damaged or obsolete, and technological progress slow. In addition, there is a serious shortage of capital accumulation in the country, which limits Vietnam's ability to invest in high-tech and heavy industries. Although the state tried to bring in foreign capital and technology to fill this gap, the political instability and economic difficulties after the war made foreign investors wary of Vietnam.
The lack of an effective industrial base and technological innovation means that Vietnam mainly plays a role in low-end manufacturing in the global industrial chain. Vietnam's economic structure is mainly based on light industry and labor-intensive industries, such as textiles, footwear and primary agricultural processing, which can provide short-term growth engines for the economy, but processing margins are low and there is limited room for value-added. As a result of this economic structure, Vietnam is mainly exporting low-cost goods in the international market, and it is difficult to enter more profitable technology-intensive markets.
In addition, due to the lack of support from heavy industry and high-tech industries, Vietnam's bargaining power in international trade is weak. This not only limits its voice in international economic organizations, but also affects its ability to use global resources and markets. The backwardness of industrialization has made Vietnam inflexible in the face of international economic fluctuations and competition, and its economic development is vulnerable to external shocks.
After missing out on the industrialization express, the Vietnamese government realized that it had to adjust its economic development strategy. Since 1986, Vietnam has implemented a policy of "innovation and opening up", trying to improve the domestic industrial structure by introducing technology and capital through market mechanisms. These reforms include easing restrictions on private enterprises, attracting foreign investment, improving infrastructure, and improving the quality of education and training, with a view to accelerating industrialization and economic modernization.
However, due to its late start and weak foundation, Vietnam faces numerous challenges in catching up with the process of industrialization. Despite some progress, Vietnam is still lagging behind on the path of industrialization and economic modernization compared to other economies in Asia.
Resources:
From Lu Xing, editor-in-chief. GMS research 2008[M]. 2008