The China-Vietnam Conflict

Abstract

The most significant development in post-war South East Asian politics is the breaking up of relations between China and Vietnam and the emergence of a serious conflict between the two countries. The Sino-Vietnamese conflict, which reflects divergent national interests, geopolitical perspectives and historical animosity between the two peoples, is closely interwined in China's conflict with the Soviet Union. The war between Cambodia and Vietnam, in which China has been deeply involved since 1975, Peking's paranoical fear of a strong Soviet-backed Vietnam and the emergence of an Indochinese federation under Hanoi as a rival of China are three most important factors in the present Sino-Vietnamese conflict. The conflict between the Chinese and the Vietnamese began shortly after the Geneva Conference in 1954 when Peking forced Hanoi to accept the Geneva accords. The present conflict is, however, mainly related to China's decision in 1971 to improve its relations with the United States. From then on, Hanoi moved away from Peking and took an independent line. In 1972 China advised Hanoi to accept a divided Vietnam and the presence of American troops there, hi 1975 China again tried to persuade the Vietnamese not to launch a military offensive to unite the south because it would upset the balance of power in South Vietnam. The Chinese hoped to see a divided Vietnam, a weak Cambodia and a weak Laos depending on China. When Hanoi rejected the Chinese proposals, Peking took a menacing attitude. In November 1975 China demanded the return of the Spartly islands occupied by the Vietnamese and cut off its economic aid. The Chinese calculated that their firmness would help reverse Hanoi's - in the eyes of the Chinese - pro-Soviet tilt. Instead the Vietnamese turned more decisively to the Soviet Union for support against Peking. The escalation of war between Cambodia and Vietnam in early 1978 touched all aspects of Sino-Vietnamese relations. The tension between Hanoi and Peking increased when Vietnam started to tighten its control over the ethnic Chinese in the south. Angered by the Vietnamese action, China accused Hanoi of pursuing "regional hegemonism" and serving as an "Asian Cuba" in a Soviet plot to gain control of South East Asia. From then on, the Chinese attempted to mobilize Japan, the United States, Australia and West Europe against Vietnam. In a demonstration of military power, the Chinese airforce invaded Vietnamese airspace and the People's Liberation Army staged manoeuvres along the frontier of Vietnam. At the same time Peking continued to arm the Pol Pot regime of Cambodia and encouraged it to continue its war against Vietnam.