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The '''Sino–Vietnamese War''' ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: '''Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Trung '''; {{zh|s=中越战争|t=中越戰爭|p=zhōng-yuè zhànzhēng}}), also known as the '''Third Indochina War''', was a brief border war fought between the [[People's Republic of China]] and the [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] in early 1979. China launched the offensive in response to Vietnam's [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War|invasion and occupation of Cambodia]] in 1978 (which ended the reign of the Chinese-backed [[Khmer Rouge]]),<ref>Concerning US backing, as Dr. Henry Kissinger in "On China" (p.372) notes "American ideals had encountered the imperatives of geopolitical reality."</ref> which Chinese Vice-premier [[Deng Xiaoping]] saw as a Soviet attempt "to extend its evil tentacles to Southeast Asia and...carry out expansion there." (see also: [[Sino-Soviet split]].<ref>Kissinger, H. On China, Penguin, New York, p.346</ref>) As Dr. Henry Kissinger notes: "Whatever the shortcomings of its execution, the Chinese campaign reflected a serious, long-term strategic analysis."<ref>Ibid, p. 370.</ref>
The '''Sino–Vietnamese War''' ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: '''Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Tàu '''; {{zh|s=中越战争|t=中越戰爭|p=zhōng-yuè zhànzhēng}}), also known as the '''Third Indochina War''', was a brief border war fought between the [[People's Republic of China]] and the [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] in early 1979. China launched the offensive in response to Vietnam's [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War|invasion and occupation of Cambodia]] in 1978 (which ended the reign of the Chinese-backed [[Khmer Rouge]]),<ref>Concerning US backing, as Dr. Henry Kissinger in "On China" (p.372) notes "American ideals had encountered the imperatives of geopolitical reality."</ref> which Chinese Vice-premier [[Deng Xiaoping]] saw as a Soviet attempt "to extend its evil tentacles to Southeast Asia and...carry out expansion there." (see also: [[Sino-Soviet split]].<ref>Kissinger, H. On China, Penguin, New York, p.346</ref>) As Dr. Henry Kissinger notes: "Whatever the shortcomings of its execution, the Chinese campaign reflected a serious, long-term strategic analysis."<ref>Ibid, p. 370.</ref>


The Chinese entered northern Vietnam and captured some of the bordering cities. On March 6, 1979, China declared that the gate to [[Hanoi]] was open and that their punitive mission had been achieved. Chinese forces retreated back across the Vietnamese border, into China. Both China and Vietnam claimed victory in the last of the [[Indochina Wars]] of the 20th century; as Vietnamese troops remained in Cambodia until 1989 it can be said that the PRC failed to achieve the goal of dissuading Vietnam from involvement in Cambodia. However, Moscow surely realized that any attempt at expanding its foothold in Southeast Asia would have involved risk of military confrontation with China. Following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], the Sino-Vietnamese border was finalized.
The Chinese entered northern Vietnam and captured some of the bordering cities. On March 6, 1979, China declared that the gate to [[Hanoi]] was open and that their punitive mission had been achieved. Chinese forces retreated back across the Vietnamese border, into China. Both China and Vietnam claimed victory in the last of the [[Indochina Wars]] of the 20th century; as Vietnamese troops remained in Cambodia until 1989 it can be said that the PRC failed to achieve the goal of dissuading Vietnam from involvement in Cambodia. However, Moscow surely realized that any attempt at expanding its foothold in Southeast Asia would have involved risk of military confrontation with China. Following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], the Sino-Vietnamese border was finalized.
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==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The Sino–Vietnamese War ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnam]]: ''Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Trung'') is also known as the Third Indochina War, to distinguish it from the [[First Indochina War]], and the [[Vietnam War]], also known as the Second Indochina War.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chinese Military Strategy in the Third Indochina War: The Last Maoist War |publisher=[[Routledge]] |first=Edward |last=O'dowd |page=4 |isbn=9780415414272 |year=2007}}</ref> The war is also known in Vietnam as ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnam]]: ''Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa''; [[English language|English]]: ''War against Chinese expansionism'').<ref>{{cite book|title=Foreign policy and U.S. national security: major postelection issues |first=William W. |last=Whitson |publisher=[[Praeger]] |year=1976 |page=142 |isbn=9780275565404}}</ref>
The Sino–Vietnamese War ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnam]]: ''Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Tàu '') is also known as the Third Indochina War, to distinguish it from the [[First Indochina War]], and the [[Vietnam War]], also known as the Second Indochina War.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chinese Military Strategy in the Third Indochina War: The Last Maoist War |publisher=[[Routledge]] |first=Edward |last=O'dowd |page=4 |isbn=9780415414272 |year=2007}}</ref> The war is also known in Vietnam as ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnam]]: ''Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa''; [[English language|English]]: ''War against Chinese expansionism'').<ref>{{cite book|title=Foreign policy and U.S. national security: major postelection issues |first=William W. |last=Whitson |publisher=[[Praeger]] |year=1976 |page=142 |isbn=9780275565404}}</ref>


In China, the war is referred to as ({{zh|s=对越自卫反击战|p=''duì yuè zìwèi fǎnjī zhàn''}}; [[English language|English]]: ''Defensive Counterattack against Vietnam'').<ref>{{cite book |title=On China |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin Canada]] |first=Henry |last=Kissinger |year=2011 |isbn=9780143179474}}</ref> The Chinese government described the war as a "self-defense counterattack against Vietnam" (对越自卫反击战; ''duì yuè zì wèi fǎn jī zhàn'').
In China, the war is referred to as ({{zh|s=对越自卫反击战|p=''duì yuè zìwèi fǎnjī zhàn''}}; [[English language|English]]: ''Defensive Counterattack against Vietnam'').<ref>{{cite book |title=On China |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin Canada]] |first=Henry |last=Kissinger |year=2011 |isbn=9780143179474}}</ref> The Chinese government described the war as a "self-defense counterattack against Vietnam" (对越自卫反击战; ''duì yuè zì wèi fǎn jī zhàn'').

Revision as of 06:54, 5 June 2013

This article is about the 20th century war. For other Sino-Vietnamese wars in general, see Sino-Vietnamese War (disambiguation).

Sino–Vietnamese War
(Third Indochina War)
Part of the Cold War and the Cambodian-Vietnamese War
File:VietnamChina1979.png

An atlas map showing the Chinese invasion of northern Vietnam in 1979
DateFebruary 17, 1979 – March 16, 1979
(3 weeks and 6 days)
Location
China–Vietnam border
Result

Both sides claim victory

Territorial
changes		 Little territorial changes for either side; effectively uti possidetis and status quo ante bellum.
Belligerents
 China
Cambodia Democratic Kampuchea		  Vietnam
Supported by:
 Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
China Deng Xiaoping
China Yang Dezhi
China Xu Shiyou		 Vietnam Le Duan
Vietnam Văn Tiến Dũng
Vietnam Dam Quang Trung
Vietnam Vu Lap
Strength
200,000-600,000 [1] PLA infantry and 400 tanks from Kunming and Guangzhou Military Districts[2] 70,000–100,000 regular force, 150,000 local troops and militia[3]
Casualties and losses

Unknown, estimated 26,000 killed out of 60,000 casualties.[4]

Claimed by China: 8,531 killed, 21,000 wounded.[5]

Unknown, estimated nearly 10,000 killed.[6]

Claimed by Vietnam: 10,000 civilians killed, no figures of military[2]


Sino-Vietnamese War
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese對越自衛反擊戰
Simplified Chinese对越自卫反击战
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinduì yuè zìwèi fǎnjī zhàn
Wade–Gilestui yüeh tzu-wei fan-chi chan
IPA[twêɪ ɥê tsɹ̩̂wêɪ fàntɕí ʈʂân]
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingdeoi3 jyut6 zi6wai6
faan1gik1 zin3
Vietnamese name
VietnameseChiến tranh biên giới Việt-Trung

Template:Contains Chinese text The Sino–Vietnamese War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Tàu ; simplified Chinese: 中越战争; traditional Chinese: 中越戰爭; pinyin: zhōng-yuè zhànzhēng), also known as the Third Indochina War, was a brief border war fought between the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in early 1979. China launched the offensive in response to Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia in 1978 (which ended the reign of the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge),[7] which Chinese Vice-premier Deng Xiaoping saw as a Soviet attempt "to extend its evil tentacles to Southeast Asia and...carry out expansion there." (see also: Sino-Soviet split.[8]) As Dr. Henry Kissinger notes: "Whatever the shortcomings of its execution, the Chinese campaign reflected a serious, long-term strategic analysis."[9]

The Chinese entered northern Vietnam and captured some of the bordering cities. On March 6, 1979, China declared that the gate to Hanoi was open and that their punitive mission had been achieved. Chinese forces retreated back across the Vietnamese border, into China. Both China and Vietnam claimed victory in the last of the Indochina Wars of the 20th century; as Vietnamese troops remained in Cambodia until 1989 it can be said that the PRC failed to achieve the goal of dissuading Vietnam from involvement in Cambodia. However, Moscow surely realized that any attempt at expanding its foothold in Southeast Asia would have involved risk of military confrontation with China. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Sino-Vietnamese border was finalized.

China demonstrated to its Cold War adversary, the Soviet Union, that they were unable to protect their new Vietnamese ally.[10] Following worsening relations between the Soviet Union and China as a result of the Sino-Soviet split, as many as 1.5 million Chinese troops were stationed along the Soviet-Chinese border, in preparation for a full-scale war.

Etymology

The Sino–Vietnamese War (Vietnam: Chiến tranh biên giới Việt-Tàu ) is also known as the Third Indochina War, to distinguish it from the First Indochina War, and the Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War.[11] The war is also known in Vietnam as (Vietnam: Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa; English: War against Chinese expansionism).[12]

In China, the war is referred to as (Chinese: 对越自卫反击战; pinyin: duì yuè zìwèi fǎnjī zhàn; English: Defensive Counterattack against Vietnam).[13] The Chinese government described the war as a "self-defense counterattack against Vietnam" (对越自卫反击战; duì yuè zì wèi fǎn jī zhàn).

Background

French colonialism and the First Indochina War

Main article: First Indochina War

Vietnam first became a French colony when France invaded in 1858. By the 1880s, the French had expanded their sphere of influence in Southeast Asia to include all of Vietnam, and by 1893 both Laos and Cambodia had become French colonies as well.[14] Rebellions against the French colonial power were common up to World War I. The European war heightened revolutionary sentiment in Southeast Asia, and the independence-minded population rallied around revolutionaries such as Hồ Chí Minh and others, including royalists.

Prior to their attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese occupied French Indochina.[15][16] The Japanese surrender in 1945 created a power vacuum in Indochina, as the various political factions scrambled for control.

The events leading to the First Indochina War are subject to historical contention.[17] When the Vietminh hastily sought to establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the remaining French at first welcomed the new regime, but then staged a coup to regain their control.[16][18] The Kuomintang supported French restoration, but Vietminh efforts towards independence were helped by Chinese communists under Soviet Union's power. The Soviet Union at first indirectly supported Vietnamese communists, but later directly supported Hồ Chí Minh.[19][20] The Soviets nonetheless remained less supportive than China until after the Sino-Soviet split, during the time of Leonid Brezhnev when the Soviet Union became the key ally to communist Vietnam.

The war itself involved numerous events that had major impacts throughout Indochina. Two major conferences were held to bring about a resolution. Finally, on July 20, 1954, the Geneva Conference resulted in a political settlement to reunite the country, signed with support from China, Russia, and Western European powers.[19] While the Soviet Union played a constructive role in the agreement, it again was not as involved as China.[19][21] The U.S. disapproved of the agreement and swiftly moved when the Vietnamese gained their independence.

Sino–Soviet split

Main article: Sino-Soviet split

The Chinese Communist Party and the Vietminh had a long history. During the initial stages of the First Indochina War with France, the recently founded communist People's Republic of China had to continue the Russian mission to expand communism. Therefore, they aided the Vietminh and became the connector between Soviets and the Vietminh. In early 1950, The Vietminh fought independently from the 'Chinese Military Advisory Group' under Wei Guoqing. This was one of the reasons for China to cut the arms support for the Vietminh.

After the death of Joseph Stalin, relations between the Soviet Union and China began to deteriorate. Mao Zedong believed the new Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev had made a serious error in his Secret Speech denouncing Stalin, and criticized the Soviet Union's interpretation of Marxism–Leninism, in particular Khrushchev's support for peaceful co-existence and its interpretation. This led to increasingly hostile relations, and eventually the Sino-Soviet split. From here, Chinese communists played a decreasing role in helping their former allies because the Vietminh did not support China against the Soviets.

Following the death of Mao, the overthrow of the Gang of Four and the ascent of Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leadership would revise its own positions to become compatible with market aspects, denounce the Cultural Revolution, and collaborate with the US against the Soviet Union.

Vietnam War

Main article: Vietnam War

The Soviet Union and North Vietnam became important allies together due to the fact that if South Vietnam was successfully taken over by North Vietnam, then communism in the far-east would find its strategic position bolstered.

In the eyes of the People's Republic of China, the growing Soviet-Vietnamese relationship was a disturbing development; they feared an encirclement by the less-than-hospitable Soviet sphere of influence.

The People's Republic of China started talks with the United States in the early 1970s, culminating in high level meetings with Henry Kissinger and later Richard Nixon. These meetings contributed to a re-orientation of Chinese foreign policy toward the United States. Meanwhile, the People's Republic of China also supported the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

Cambodia

Main article: Cambodian-Vietnamese War

Although the Vietnamese Communists and the Khmer Rouge had previously cooperated, the relationship deteriorated when Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot came to power and established Democratic Kampuchea. After the 1977 Khmer Rouge incursion against the Vietnamese provinces of An Giang and Chau Doc, numerous clashes along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia, and encouragement from Khmer Rouge defectors, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in December 1978.

In order to occupy the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam decided to move main forces from the north to the south but still harry the border of PRC at the command of Soviets. This decision put Vietnam into a bi-directional war lately with Cambodian and PRC. When PRC started attacking the military troops in the north of Vietnam, Vietnam government had to move their main forces south to defend their homeland. The Soviets announced that they were supporting the Vietnamese against Cambodian massacres. They sent heavy transport planes to help Vietnam move their main forces.[citation needed]

In late 1978, the Vietnamese military rushed to Phnom Penh quickly and ended the Khmer Rouge regime. However, the main forces continued to occupy Cambodia two years to help the new government stabilize.[citation needed]

History

While the first war emerged from the complex situation following World War II and the second exploded from the unresolved aftermath of political relations with the first, the Third Indochina War again followed the unsolved problems of the earlier wars. The fact remains that: "Peace did not come to Indochina with either American 1973 withdrawal or Hanoi's 1975 victory" as disputes erupted over Cambodia and relations with China.[22]

The PRC, now under Deng Xiaoping, was starting the Chinese economic reform and opening trade with NATO nations, in turn, growing increasingly defiant against the Soviet Union. On November 3, 1978, the Soviet Union and Vietnam signed a twenty-five year mutual defense treaty,[23] which made Vietnam the "linchpin" in the Soviet Union's "drive to contain China."[24]

On January 1, 1979, Chinese Vice-premier Deng Xiaoping visited the United States for the first time and spoke to American president Jimmy Carter: "Children are not listening, it is time they be spanked." (original Chinese words: 小朋友不听话，该打打屁股了。).[25] On February 15, the first day that China could have officially announced the termination of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, Deng Xiaoping declared that China planned to conduct a limited attack on Vietnam.

The reason cited for the attack was the mistreatment of Vietnam's ethnic Chinese minority and the Vietnamese occupation of the Spratly Islands (claimed by the PRC). To prevent Soviet intervention on Vietnam's behalf, Deng warned Moscow the next day that China was prepared for a full-scale war against the Soviet Union; in preparation for this conflict, China put all of its troops along the Sino-Soviet border on an emergency war alert, set up a new military command in Xinjiang, and even evacuated an estimated 300,000 civilians from the Sino-Soviet border.[26] In addition, the bulk of China's active forces (as many as one-and-a-half million troops) were stationed along China's borders with the Soviet Union.[27]

In response to China's attack, the Soviet Union sent several naval vessels and initiated a Soviet arms airlift to Vietnam. However the Soviet Union felt that there was simply no way that they could directly support Vietnam against the PRC; the distances were too great to be an effective ally, and any sort of reinforcements would have to cross territory controlled by the PRC or U.S. allies. The only realistic option would be to indirectly restart the simmering border war with China in the north. Vietnam was important to Soviet policy but not enough for the Soviets to go to war over. When Moscow did not intervene, Beijing publicly proclaimed that the Soviet Union had broken its numerous promises to assist Vietnam. The Soviet Union's failure to support Vietnam emboldened China to announce on April 3, 1979, that it intended to terminate the 1950 Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance.[23]

Chinese forces

On February 17, a PRC force of about 200,000 supported by 200 Type 59, Type 62, and Type 63 tanks from the PRC People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered northern Vietnam.[28] The Chinese force consisted of units from the Kunming Military Region (later abolished), Chengdu Military Region, Wuhan Military Region (later abolished) and Guangzhou Military Region, but commanded by the headquarters of Kunming Military Region on the western front and Guangzhou Military Region in the eastern front.

Some troops engaged in this war, especially engineering units, railway corps, logistical units and antiaircraft units, had been assigned to assist North Vietnam in its war against South Vietnam just a few years earlier during the Vietnam War. Contrary to the belief that over 600,000 Chinese troops entered North Vietnam, the actual number was only 400,000.[citation needed] However, 600,000 Chinese troops were mobilized, of which 400,000 were deployed away from their original bases during the one month conflict.[citation needed] Around 400 tanks (specifically Type 59s) were also deployed[citation needed].

The Chinese troop deployments were observed by U.S. spy satellites, and the KH-9 Big Bird photographic reconnaissance satellite played an important role.[citation needed] In his state visit to the U.S. in 1979, the Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping was presented with this information and asked to confirm the numbers. He replied that the information was completely accurate. After this public confirmation in the U.S., the domestic Chinese media were finally allowed to report on these deployments.[citation needed]

Chinese order of battle

Vietnamese forces

The Vietnamese government claimed they left only a force of about 70,000 including several army regular divisions in its northern area. However, the Chinese claimed to have encountered more than twice this number. During the war, Vietnamese forces also used American military equipment captured during the Vietnam War.

Course of the war

The Chinese entered Northern Vietnam and advanced quickly about 15–20 kilometers into Vietnam, with fighting mainly occurring in the provinces of Cao Bang, Lao Cai and Lang Son. The Vietnamese avoided mobilizing their regular divisions, and held back some 300,000 troops for the defence of Hanoi. The Vietnamese forces tried to avoid direct combat, and often used guerrilla tactics.

The initial Chinese attack soon lost its momentum, and a new wave of attack was sent in. Eight Chinese divisions joined the battle, and captured some of the northernmost cities in Vietnam. After capturing the northern heights above Lang Son, the Chinese surrounded and paused in front of the city in order to lure the Vietnamese into reinforcing it with units from Cambodia. This had been the main strategic ploy in the Chinese war plan as Deng did not want to risk an escalation involving the Soviets. The PVA high command, after a tip-off from Soviet satellite intelligence, was able to see through the trap[citation needed], however, and committed reserves only to Hanoi.

Once this became clear to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the war was practically over. An assault was still mounted, but the Vietnamese only committed one PVA regiment defending the city.[citation needed] After three days of bloody house-to-house fighting, Lang Son fell on March 6. The PLA then took the southern heights above Lang Son[29] and occupied Sapa. The PLA claimed to have crushed several of the Vietnamese regular units.[5]

The Chinese now resumed their attacks aimed at the major provincial capitals and key communication centres in the border hinter land. Major battles developed at Cao Bang, Lang Son, Hoang Lien Son, Lai Chau and Quang Ninh. The aim of these attacks was to draw in the regular Vietnamese Army formations and inflict heavy attrition on them through classical "meat-grinder" operations. There were fierce attacks and counterattacks. In Lang Son the Chinese launched 17 counterattacks to regain one objective.

By late last week of February, the Vietnamese had still not committed any of their regular divisions which were being held back for the defence of Hanoi. They had also not pulled out any of their 150,000 troops in Cambodia. In the provincial capital the Vietnamese adopted their favourite tactic: they withdrew from the towns into the adjoining hills. As the Chinese formations surged in they were engaged from all sides from the surrounding hills and quite severely mauled. At the same time, due to the crude tactics and strategy of the PLA command, PLA units also suffered extensive casualties themselves. The combination of high casualties, a badly organized command, harsh Vietnamese resistance and the risk of the Soviets entering the conflict stopped the Chinese from going any farther.[citation needed]

On March 6, China declared that the gate to Hanoi was open and that their punitive mission had been achieved. On the way back to the Chinese border, the PLA destroyed all local infrastructure and housing and looted all useful equipment and resources (including livestock), which were mainly donated by China to support Vietnam's economy prior to the war, severely weakening the economy of Vietnam's northernmost provinces.[5] The PLA crossed the border back into China on March 16. While China claimed to have crushed the Vietnamese resistance, Vietnam claimed that China had mostly only fought against border militias. This allowed both sides to declare victorious, as both sides claimed to have "taught the other a lesson".[citation needed]

In fact, the PLA's performance in the 1979 campaign was poor, conducted a series of slow, indecisive operations.[citation needed] In the Lang Son area, one Vietnamese regiment held up 2 Chinese Corps for a week.[citation needed] Another Chinese Corps took 10 days to secure the two towns Lao Cai and Cam Duong that lies less than 15 km to the border. In Cao Bang, PLA had to commit at least 2 Army Corps to mount a renewed assault on a city that it claimed to already taken.[citation needed] In Quang Ninh, a platoon of Vietnamese delayed a Chinese regiment for 5 hours, inflicting 360 Chinese casualties.[30]

Aftermath

The aftermath of the war had different effects. China and Vietnam each lost thousands of troops, and China lost 3,446 million yuan in overhead, which delayed completion of their 1979–80 economic plan.[31] To reduce Vietnam's military capability against China, the Chinese implemented a "scorched-earth policy" while returning to China, causing extensive damage to the Vietnamese countryside and infrastructure.[32] Although Vietnam continued to occupy Cambodia, China successfully mobilized international opposition to the occupation, rallying such leaders as Cambodia's deposed king Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodian anticommunist leader Son Sann, and high-ranking members of the Khmer Rouge to deny the pro-Vietnam regime in Cambodia diplomatic recognition beyond the Soviet bloc. China improved relations with ASEAN by promising protection to Thailand and Singapore against "Vietnamese aggression". In contrast, Vietnam's decreasing prestige in the region led it to be more dependent on the Soviet Union, to which it leased a naval base at Cam Ranh Bay.[33]

Chinese casualties

The number of casualties during the war is disputed. Vietnamese source claimed the PLA had suffered 62,500 total casualties; while Chinese democracy activist Wei Jingsheng told western media in 1980 that the Chinese troops had suffered 9,000 deaths and about 10,000 wounded during the war. New Chinese sources indicated that China only suffered 6,954 lost.[34]

Vietnamese casualties

Like their counterparts in the Chinese government, the Vietnamese government has never announced any information on its actual military casualties. China estimated Vietnamese side had 42,000 soldiers killed and 70,000 militias also killed by the Chinese PLA.[35] The Nhan Dan newspaper[36] the Central Organ of the Communist Party of Vietnam claimed that Vietnam suffered more than 10,000 civilian deaths during the Chinese invasion[36] and earlier on May 17, 1979, reported statistics on heavy losses of industry and agriculture properties.[36]

Other skirmishes

Border skirmishes continued throughout the 1980s, including a significant skirmish in April 1984. Armed conflict only ended in 1989 after the Vietnamese agreed to fully withdraw from Cambodia. This conflict also saw the first use of the Type 81 assault rifle by the Chinese and a naval battle over the Spratly Islands in 1988 known as the Johnson South Reef Skirmish. In 1999 after many years of negotiations, China and Vietnam signed a border pact, though the line of demarcation remained secret.[37]

There was an adjustment of the land border, resulting in Vietnam giving China part of its land which were lost during the battle, including Ai Nam Quan gate which served as the traditional border marker and entry point between Vietnam and China, which caused widespread frustration within Vietnam. Vietnam's official news service reported the implementation of the new border around August 2001. Again in January 2009 the border demarcation with markers was officially completed, signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung on the Vietnamese side and his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, on the Chinese side.[38] Both the Paracel (Hoàng Sa: Vietnamese) (Xīshā: Chinese) and Spratly (Trường Sa: Vietnamese) (Nansha: Chinese) islands remain a point of contention.[39]

During the Sino-Soviet split, strained relations between China and Soviet Russia resulted in strained relations between China and the pro Soviet Afghan Communist regime. China and Afghanistan had neutral relations with each other during the King's rule. When the pro Soviet Afghan Communists seized power in Afghanistan in 1978, relations between China and the Afghan communists quickly turned hostile. The Afghan pro Soviet communists supported the Vietnamese during the Sino-Vietnamese War and blamed China for supporting Afghan anti communist militants. China responded to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan by supporting the Afghan Mujahidin and ramping up their military presence near Afghanistan in Xinjiang. China acquired military equipment from America to defend itself from Soviet attack.[40]

In response to the Soviet threat level, the Chinese People's Liberation Army trained and supported the Afghan Mujahidin during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. China moved its training camps for the mujahideen from Pakistan into China itself. Hundreds of millions worth of anti aircraft missiles, rocket launchers and machine guns were given to the Mujahidin by the Chinese. Chinese military advisors and army troops were present with the Mujahidin during training.[41]

Relations after the war

Main article: Sino-Vietnamese relations
See also: Foreign relations of Vietnam, Battle of the Paracel Islands, and Johnson South Reef Skirmish

The December 2007 announcement of a plan to build a Hanoi-Kunming highway was a landmark in Sino-Vietnamese relations. The road will traverse the border that once served as a battleground. It should contribute to demilitarizing the border region, as well as facilitating trade and industrial cooperation between the nations.[42]

  • On March 1, 2005, Howard W. French wrote in The New York Times: Some historians stated that the war was started by Mr. Deng (China's then paramount leader Deng Xiaoping) to keep the army preoccupied while he consolidated power...[43]

Chinese media

There are a number of Chinese songs, movies and T.V. programs depicting and discussing this conflict with Vietnam in 1979 from the Chinese viewpoint.[44][45][46] These vary from the patriotic song "Bloodstained Glory" originally written to laud the sacrifice and service of the Chinese military, to the 1986 film The Big Parade which carried (as far as possible, in China at that time) veiled criticism of the war.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Zygmunt Czarnotta and Zbigniew Moszumański, Altair Publishing, Warszawa 1995, ISBN 83-86217-16-2
  2. ^ a b Zhang Xiaoming, (actually are thought to have been 200,000 with 400 – 550 tanks)"China's 1979 War with Vietnam: A Reassessment", China Quarterly, Issue no. 184 (December 2005), pp. 851–874. Zhang writes that: "Existing scholarship tends towards an estimate of as many as 10,000 PLA killed in action and another 37,000 wounded. Recently available Chinese sources categorize the PLA’s losses as 8531 dead and some 21,000 injured, giving a total of 2,4000 casualties from an invasion force of 200,000."
  3. ^ King V. Chen(1987):China's War With Việt Nam, 1979. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, page 103
  4. ^ Russell D. Howard, THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY: "SHORT ARMS AND SLOW LEGS", INSS Occasional Paper 28: Regional Security Series, USAF Institute for National Security Studies, USAF Academy, September 1999
  5. ^ a b c 《对越自卫反击作战工作总结》Work summary on counter strike (1979–1987) published by The rear services of Chinese Kunming Military Region
  6. ^ TIME, "China - Vietnam Border War, 30 Years Later"
  7. ^ Concerning US backing, as Dr. Henry Kissinger in "On China" (p.372) notes "American ideals had encountered the imperatives of geopolitical reality."
  8. ^ Kissinger, H. On China, Penguin, New York, p.346
  9. ^ Ibid, p. 370.
  10. ^ Elleman, Bruce A. (2001). Modern Chinese Warfare, 1795-1989. Routledge. p. 297. ISBN 0415214742.
  11. ^ O'dowd, Edward (2007). Chinese Military Strategy in the Third Indochina War: The Last Maoist War. Routledge. p. 4. ISBN 9780415414272.
  12. ^ Whitson, William W. (1976). Foreign policy and U.S. national security: major postelection issues. Praeger. p. 142. ISBN 9780275565404.
  13. ^ Kissinger, Henry (2011). On China. Penguin Canada. ISBN 9780143179474.
  14. ^ Dunnigan, J.F. & Nofi, A.A. (1999). Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War. New York: St. Martins Press, p. 27.
  15. ^ Dunnigan, J.F. & Nofi, A.A. (1999). Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War. New York: St. Martins Press, pp. 27–38.
  16. ^ a b Hood, S.J. (1992). Dragons Entangled: Indochina and the China-Vietnam War. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, p. 16.
  17. ^ Burns, R.D. and Leitenberg, M. (1984). The Wars in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, 1945–1982: A Bibliographic Guide. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Information Services, p.xx.
  18. ^ Burns, R.D. and Leitenberg, M. (1984). The Wars in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, 1945–1982: A Bibliographic Guide. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Information Services, p. xx.
  19. ^ a b c Hood, S.J. (1992). Dragons Entangled: Indochina and the China-Vietnam War. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, p. 13-19.
  20. ^ Chen, Min. (1992). The Strategic Triangle and Regional Conflict: Lessons from the Indochina Wars. Boulder: Lnne Reinner Publications, p. 17-23.
  21. ^ Chen, Min. (1992). The Strategic Triangle and Regional Conflict: Lessons from the Indochina Wars. Boulder: Lnne Reinner Publications, p. 17-23.
  22. ^ Burns, R.D. and Leitenberg, M. (1984). The Wars in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, 1945–1982: A Bibliographic Guide. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio Information Services, p. xxvi.
  23. ^ a b {http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/vietnamcenter/events/1996_Symposium/96papers/elleviet.htm Sino-Soviet Relations and the February 1979 Sino-Vietnamese Conflict by Bruce Elleman}
  24. ^ Scalapino, Robert A. (1982) "The Political Influence of the Soviet Union in Asia" In Zagoria, Donald S. (editor) (1982) Soviet Policy in East Asia Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, page 71.
  25. ^ "In Chinese:中共對侵越戰爭八股自辯". Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  26. ^ {(Chang Pao-min, Kampuchea Between China and Vietnam (Singapore, Singapore University Press, 1985), 88–89.)}
  27. ^ {(Robert A. Scalapino "Asia in a Global Context: Strategic Issue for the Soviet Union," in Richard H. Solomon and Masataka Kosaka, eds., The Soviet Far East Military Buildup (Dover, MA. , Auburn House Publishing Company, 1986), 28.) }
  28. ^ ChinaDefense.com – The Political History of Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979, and the Chinese Concept of Active Defense
  29. ^ Armchair General magazine
  30. ^ Edward C. O'Dowd (2007). Chinese Military Strategy in the Third Indochina War: The Last Maoist War. Routledge., page 46
  31. ^ "China "Should Learn from its Losses" in the War against Vietnam" from "August 1" Radio, People's republic of China, 1400 GMT, February 17, 1980, as reported by BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 22 february 1980
  32. ^ [ History 1615: War and Peace in the 20th Century]
  33. ^ MacFarquhar, Roderick (1991). The People's Republic, Part 2. The Cambridge History of China. Cambridge University Press. pp. 447–449.
  34. ^ 9abc.net
  35. ^ http://www.9abc.net/index.php/archives/71814
  36. ^ a b c Nhan Dan
  37. ^ [ BBC News | ASIA-PACIFIC | China-Vietnam pact signed]
  38. ^ [ Thanh Nien News | Politics | Vietnam, China complete historic border demarcation]
  39. ^ [ Thanh Nien News | Politics | Vietnam reiterates sovereignty over archipelagoes]
  40. ^ S. Frederick Starriditor=S. Frederick Starr (2004). Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland (illustrated ed.). M.E. Sharpe. p. 157. ISBN 0765613182. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  41. ^ S. Frederick Starriditor=S. Frederick Starr (2004). Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland (illustrated ed.). M.E. Sharpe. p. 158. ISBN 0765613182. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  42. ^ Greenlees, Donald Approval near for Vietnam-China highway International Herald Tribune, December 13, 2007
  43. ^ French, Howard W. (March 1, 2005). "Was the War Pointless? China Shows How to Bury It". The New York Times. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
  44. ^ http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E8%B6%8A%E6%88%98%E4%BA%89#.E4.B8.AD.E5.9B.BD.E5.A4.A7.E9.99.86
  45. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ka-zqQ5vHI&feature=related
  46. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvMnHy7LuPE

Additional sources

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