China\'s Quest. The History of the Foreign Relations of the People\'s Republic of China - John Garver

90 { China’s Quest

Before Chinese advisors deployed to Vietnam, they were instructed to avoid

arrogance and attitudes of big power chauvinism. They were not to display

contempt or seek to impose their views on their Vietnamese associates. Nor

should they take offense if Vietnamese refused to adopt their suggestions.

Mao and Luo Guibo were acutely aware of China’s long history of domina-

tion of Vietnam, and strove to prevent old Chinese habits from spoiling the

creation of a new era of equal cooperation.

In mid-1950, the CCP assigned another accomplished PLA general, Chen

Geng, to draw up a plan for securing Viet Minh control over the mountainous

terrain along Vietnam’s border with China. The plan Chen Geng devised was

carefully premised on the still-limited military experience and capabilities

of Viet Minh forces, and would build step by step toward success in accord

with the strategic principles of Mao Zedong. The offensive was successful.

By October, almost the entire border region was under Viet Minh control.

Transportation lines with China were no longer blocked by French forces, and

Viet Minh forces were positioned to move into the more densely populated

Red River delta. Chinese assistance had transformed the battlefield balance

between Viet Minh and French forces. Figure 3-2 illustrates the CMAG–Viet

Minh campaigns of 1950–1952.

Gulf of

Tonkin

Red River

Delta

Red

(^) R.
Hanoi
Dien Bien Phu,
1954
Kunming,
Yunnan
Province
Nanning,
Guangxi
Province

VIETNAM

CHINA

LAOS

Approximate area

of Viet Minh control,

end 1951

Rail lines to

forward areas

Border zone secured

Lai Chau,  nal July–October 1950

objective of northwest

campaign, early 1952

FIGU R E 3-2 CMAG–Viet Minh Campaigns of 1950–1952

Source: Qiang Zhai, China and the Vietname Wars, 1950–1975, (University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill,

2000), p. 27.