solarz
Brigadier
Trivial? ROFL!
FYI, a sewing machine back then cost six months of salary for an average worker.
Sino-Vietnamese War (1979): What was the end results of it ?
Trivial? ROFL!
FYI, a sewing machine back then cost six months of salary for an average worker.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Is it a joke or really a question ? you don't have any understanding the difference between PRC today and back then 45 yrs ago, really ?
A distant relative of mine is a PLA veteran of this war. His personal anecdote was that starting out he was afraid of dying, but once the bullets started flying and he saw his friends getting killed, his fear was replaced with rage and bloodlust and he proceeded to then kill every Vietnamese in front of him to avenge his comrades.
In terms of how that war proceeded, the CPC leadership never intended to permanently occupy Vietnam. Instead, the aim was to send a 'message' in stronger terms than written and verbal to the Vietnamese leadership what crossing Chinese red lines were (claiming Chinese border territories, tearing up a previously signed treaty agreeing Xi Sha belongs to China, side with the Soviets, attacking Chinese allies in Laos and Cambodia). The PLA achieved its military objectives during the one month offensive (though casualties were certainly higher as the top general in charge was originally a monk who was big on bravery and less on tactical finesse), then pulled back to China. While the offensive did not immediately achieve the CPC's political goals, the damaged suffered by Vietnam prevented it from posing a more serious threat to China as their industry was set back a decade, giving the CPC a more favourable negotiating position once the USSR backing Vietnam fell apart and hostilities ended.
Personally I'm happy this part of the conflict only lasted a month, my parents who were college students at the time were given notice to be ready for mobilization if the PLA called, so there's a chance I may not have been born
In terms of how that war proceeded, the CPC leadership never intended to permanently occupy Vietnam. Instead, the aim was to send a 'message' in stronger terms than written and verbal to the Vietnamese leadership what crossing Chinese red lines were (claiming Chinese border territories, tearing up a previously signed treaty agreeing Xi Sha belongs to China, side with the Soviets, attacking Chinese allies in Laos and Cambodia). The PLA achieved its military objectives during the one month offensive (though casualties were certainly higher as the top general in charge was originally a monk who was big on bravery and less on tactical finesse), then pulled back to China. While the offensive did not immediately achieve the CPC's political goals, the damaged suffered by Vietnam prevented it from posing a more serious threat to China as their industry was set back a decade, giving the CPC a more favourable negotiating position once the USSR backing Vietnam fell apart and hostilities ended.
Personally I'm happy this part of the conflict only lasted a month, my parents who were college students at the time were given notice to be ready for mobilization if the PLA called, so there's a chance I may not have been born
And I have said so in the original comment that obviously, the cause of the war and reasoning for looting were different between the two wars. But there are still many striking similarities. Just because there are differences between the economics and technological conditions doesn't mean the wars can't be compared. The discussion is not between today's China vs Russia, but rather today's Russia vs China in the 70/80s. Both wars were fought between near pear opponents. The relative strength of China vs Vietnam back then was much similar to Russia vs Ukraine today.
I would also like to add that the proximate cause of the wars is similar. That a country China/Russia views as in their sphere of influence choosing to align with another country. That Vietnam chose to switch sides to the Soviet Union and Ukraine switched to pro-EU/US. But there are also different war aims, the Chinese objective being a short punishing war while the Russians were more land grab.
I understand the difference between PRC today and 45 years ago, but I don't understand what does today's PRC has to do with the discussion at hand which is about the Sino-Vietnamese war in 1979 and the current Ukraine war. It is irrelevant what PRC is like today. If anything the 43 years difference makes the similarities between the two wars even more notable. The Russian army right now is not well training and equipt just like PLA was not well trained after the cultural revolution prior to the 1979 war.
This seems to be the fundamental nature of war that never changes.
Edit:sorry posted too soon.
Armies seldom are. You know the joke about how the military is always ready to fight the last war.
Fair enough. I was too impetuous and short sighted for using the word "stupid" so I take that back.
Vietnam had a very large and powerful army at that time and was waging wars in two neighbouring countries. Ukraine is a failed state whose army threw down their weapons and fled 8 years ago. 45 years ago, Vietnam and China were technological peers. Ukraine certainly isn't a peer to Russia today.