In 1979, shortly after the dust settled on the Vietnam War, it was supposed to be a time to repair the wounds and seek peace, but some people had other plans. Instead of calming down, Vietnam has provoked new disputes, and even made an incredible demand to China to move the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 100 kilometers north! In the face of such unreasonable demands, guess what China is doing? That's right, straight to the point - "start fighting"!
In 1979, China was in the early stage of reform and opening up, and the situation at home and abroad was complicated. And in this year, an expected and unexpected war broke out. This was not only a military contest, but also the outbreak of deep-seated contradictions between the two socialist countries.
Vietnam, a country that has long been influenced by Chinese culture in history, experienced the colonial war with France and the Vietnam War with the United States, which severely depleted its national strength and nearly collapsed its domestic economy. It was expected that Vietnam would concentrate on recovery and development after the war, but its choice was a big surprise.
Soon after the war, the Vietnamese government began to expand abroad, first by invading neighboring Cambodia. As for China, Vietnam has taken a series of provocative actions. In particular, in 1979, Vietnam ignored the large amount of assistance provided by China in its previous wars of resistance against France and the United States, not only frequently harassed the border areas, but even openly demanded that China move the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 100 kilometers north.
In the face of Vietnam's provocations, the Chinese government initially opted for restraint. After all, proceeding from the overall situation, China and Vietnam are both members of the socialist camp and should be united and mutually beneficial. When Vietnam's actions touch the bottom line of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has no choice but to respond with force.
On February 17, 1979, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, under the command of General Yang Dezhi, mobilized nearly 230,000 troops to carry out a limited self-defense counterattack against Vietnam. Although the battle lasted only 16 days, it quickly advanced to Lang Son, just 130 kilometers from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The Chinese army showed great combat effectiveness and dealt a heavy blow to Vietnam.
On March 5, after the self-defense counterattack achieved the predetermined goal, all Chinese troops withdrew to the country, demonstrating China's determination and self-control in the limited objectives of this war. Instead of relenting, Vietnam occupied the former border strip immediately after the retreat of Chinese troops and continued its international provocations.
Although the war was short-lived, it reflected the complex ideological and geopolitical conflict between China and Vietnam during the Cold War. At a deeper level, this is not just because of the border issue, but also because of the inevitable collision of the two countries' repositioning in the post-war Asian political landscape.
From a historical point of view, Vietnam's relationship with China is complex and delicate. Although Vietnam has long been influenced by Chinese culture in ancient times, it has experienced a long struggle with Western powers, especially against French and American colonization and intervention. In the process, the Vietnamese people have demonstrated a high sense of national pride and a strong will for independence. Nationalist sentiment is also building up in Vietnam as it moves away from external powers, which partly explains its hardline and even aggressive posture after the war.
Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia and its successive provocations against China can be seen as its strategic actions to try to establish regional influence in Southeast Asia. Through these external conflicts, the Vietnamese government may try to divert its domestic attention and use military action abroad to consolidate the legitimacy and stability of its domestic regime.
This strategy clearly underestimates China's response. China's military campaign in 1979 was in fact a powerful response to Vietnam's constant provocations. By using this short but limited war, China is actually warning Vietnam and its possible supporters that China's sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be violated, while also demonstrating China's willingness to maintain regional peace and stability.
While China's military action has been effective in containing Vietnamese provocations, the conflict has also exposed the complexities of how China handles relations with members within the socialist camp in a rapidly changing international environment after the war. This war was not only a military confrontation, but also a collision of the strategic ideas of two different socialist countries.
After that, the restoration and improvement of Sino-Vietnamese relations will require a long time and a huge diplomatic effort. The lessons of this war for both countries are profound, and they remind us that true peace and stability can only be achieved on the basis of mutual respect and understanding.
Although the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 was only a moment in the long river of history, its impact was far-reaching. The war not only changed the trajectory of relations between China and Vietnam, but also had an important impact on the political landscape of the region and the world. Relations between other countries, no matter how old they may be, need to be constantly adjusted and maintained on the basis of mutual respect and equality.