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

228 { China’s Quest

showed up at the Yunnan border, they were refused entry by Chinese border

personnel, and China refused to discuss further Naga requests for support.^94

What Were the CCP’s Objectives?

Figure 8-3 illustrates the components and geographic spread of Beijing’s rev-

olutionary quest over the entire period from 1961 to 1976. Other than in the

case of Vietnam, where China circa 1978 began documenting its generous

support for North Vietnam as a way of demonstrating Hanoi’s subsequent

ingratitude and insincerity, Beijing has released virtually no documentary

material regarding exactly why China undertook the revolutionary quest of

the 1960s. This episode continues to be one that the CCP finds embarrassing

and best left undiscussed. In this situation, speculation is more appropriate.

A broad strategic vision or objective must have underlain an effort of

this scope and duration. The CCP gave strong material and political sup-

port in the 1960s and 1970s to communist parties and movements in nine

Southeast Asian countries: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaya and

TAIWAN

VIETNAM

SINGAPORE

CAMBODIA

BURMA

EAST

PAKISTAN

LAOS

BHUTAN

NEPAL

THAILAND

BRUNEI

PHILIPPINES

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

CHINA

INDIA

PACIFIC

OCEAN

Bangkok

Vientiane

Saigon

Manila

Phnom

Penh

Taipei

Jakarta

Kuala

Lumpur

Rangoon

Hanoi

Hong Kong

Singapore: Powerful pro-

Communist movement based

in Chinese language schools

and labor unions; oppose entry

into Malaysia.

ailand: CPT training facilities

in China; CPT begins armed

struggle in 1961; VOPT radio,

1962–1979.

Burma: 1962: China begins support of

CPB Insurgency; recruits Kachin ghters

in Guizhou. 1967: PLA advisors and Red

Guard “volunteers” dispatched. 1968: Large

scale thrust into North Burma.

Laos: 1962: Pivotal role in de facto

partition into west and east zones

plus “neutralization”.

South Vietnam: 1960: Endorses VWP resumption

armed struggle. 1962: Re-arm Southern forces;

crucial role re “trails” via Laos and Cambodia.

Cambodia: 1962: Patronize Pol Pot faction of

KCP; support but restrain from attacking

Sihanouk; persuade Sihanouk to tolerate “trails”.

North Kalimantan: 1964: North Kalimantan

Liberation League formed. 1965: NKCP formed.

“Malaya”: CPM resumes armed

struggle in 1961 with US$100,000/year

CCP subsidy; VOPM radio, 1969–1980.

Indonesia: PKI training facilities

in China support Sukarno’s

“Confrontation” with Malaysia,

1963–65; 1965: arming of PKI militia.

F IGU R E 8-3 The PRC’s Revolutionary Push in Southeast Asia