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Following Mao Zedong's death, Deng Xiaoping emerged as a prominent leader in China. He sought to liberalize the Chinese economy and encourage foreign investment. As tensions flared between Vietnam and China, Deng announced plans for a limited invasion of Vietnam in early 1979—this act was partly motivated by the recent expiration of the Sino-Soviet mutual assistance treaty.
The War Itself: Events and Outcomes
On February 17, 1979, approximately 200,000 Chinese soldiers launched an invasion of Vietnam from two fronts. The Chinese aimed to pressure Vietnam into withdrawing from Cambodia. The offensive quickly captured provincial capitals, but Vietnam, adopting a defensive strategy, avoided direct confrontations in urban areas.