Asia 827
710 CHINA/816 VIETNAMMID#3007
Dispute Number: 3007
Date(s): February 1978 to March 15, 1979
Participants: 710 China/365 Russia, 816 Vietnam
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: Sino-Vietnamese relations had worsened following the Vietnam War for
several reasons. China perceived the Soviet Union’s friendship and support for the
Vietnamese as an attempt to encircle China. China was also concerned with the Viet-
namese government’s treatment of ethnic Chinese in Vietnam, especially after almost
170,000 ethnic Chinese migrated to China in the spring of 1978. Land and maritime
border claims also remained unresolved.
On June 29, 1978, Vietnam joined COMECON, the Soviet bloc’s economic
community, but China was alarmed when Vietnam invaded Cambodia and quickly
overthrew the Chinese-supported Pol Pot regime in December 1978. On February
17, 1979, Chinese forces crossed into Vietnam and continued fighting until March 5,
when China announced that Vietnam had been sufficiently “punished” and that Chi-
nese forces would soon withdraw.
Vietnam stopped military operations against Chinese troops and agreed to talks
following the Chinese withdrawal. The two sides held talks throughout the rest of
the year but made no progress. Normalization would not be achieved until November
1991.
Coding changes: Outcome changed from Unclear.
MID#3102
Dispute Number: 3102
Date(s): May 7, 1981 to May 18, 1981
Participants: 816 Vietnam/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 251–500 deaths
Narrative: In May 1981, China and Vietnam began making accusations that each
state had been the victim of “armed provocations” by the other along their shared
border. According to one report, China was concerned over Vietnam’s seizure and
fortification of areas along the border. Of course, China was also concerned about
losing its dominant position in Southeast Asia.
Fighting broke out in early to mid-May, with the most serious clashes the two had
fought since the month-long war in 1979. Close to 250 deaths were reported in just
the first two clashes.
In June 1981, Vietnam proposed talks between the two states to discuss border
tension issues. There was no clear Chinese reply, but in July 1981 China issued a