Title: The 1979 Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense Counterattack: Defenders of the Dignity and Homeland Security of a Great Power.
Breaking point: In the long course of history, the Sino-Vietnamese self-defense counterattack in 1979 was a little-known but extremely influential war. In order to defend the dignity of a major country and the security of its homeland, China launched a self-defense counterattack against Vietnam on February 17, 1979, allowing the world to witness China's strong strength and resolute attitude. The war was not only a lesson for Vietnam, but also a trigger for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, we're going to dive into this history, uncovering the complex context and deep implications of the war.
Chapter development: Vietnam's War of Resistance Against the United States lasted for 20 years and finally succeeded in 1975. In the process, China has provided Vietnam with more than $20 billion in free aid, as well as a large amount of ammunition, and also sent military advisers to help train the army. China has even assisted in the construction of roads, railways, bridges, mining, factories and other infrastructure in northern Vietnam, providing important support for Vietnam's rapid development.
However, after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated rapidly. In order to cater to the Soviet Union, Vietnam turned its back on its former great benevolence and carried out armed attacks on China, provoking conflicts. This led to a sharp decline in Sino-Vietnamese relations, with Vietnam intruding on China's borders for 10 years, and even occupying more than 96 percent of the Spratly Islands.
In the face of Vietnam's unwarranted intrusion, China launched a self-defense counterattack against Vietnam on February 17, 1979. The purpose of this war is not only to teach Vietnam a lesson, but also to defend the dignity of a great power, the security of the homeland, and the safety of people's lives and property. More than 200,000 troops from Guangxi and Yunnan entered Vietnam in a campaign that lasted 28 days and successfully achieved the strategic goal.
The war had a profound impact on Vietnam. Our army launched a fierce artillery offensive, which inflicted heavy losses on the Vietnamese army and destroyed the infrastructure and industry built with China's aid during the Vietnam War. Vietnam has been hit hard economically and has struggled to turn around. In addition, the war also directly "boiled dry" the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union fought against the United States and NATO in the Cold War, while supporting Vietnam and sending troops to Afghanistan, leading to a domestic economic crisis. Later in the Vietnam War, the Soviet Union was no longer able to support Vietnam, and China's assertiveness made it difficult for Vietnam to continue.
After ending the self-defense counterattack war against Vietnam, Vietnam did not repent and still provoked a 10-year border war. China has seized the opportunity to vigorously develop its economy and at the same time train its troops to prepare for war. Vietnam's economy collapsed due to the cost of long-term warfare, and the Soviet Union was in danger of disintegration by supporting multi-front warfare.
In 1989, the 10-year border war ended, and Vietnam completely lost its ability to confront China. The collapse of the Soviet Union became a page in history in 1991. The war, which had endured many twists and turns, made Vietnam aware of China's strength, and at the same time contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Conclusion: The 1979 Sino-Vietnamese self-defense counterattack not only defended China's dignity as a major country and homeland security, but also left a deep mark on history. The war taught Vietnam a lesson, and also directly affected the collapse of the Soviet Union. By reviewing this period of history, we can better understand the political and military background at that time, as well as China's determination to firmly safeguard its national interests. The Sino-Vietnamese self-defense counterattack is a page in China's history and a witness to the rise of a great power.