ABSTRACT
The Sino-Vietnamese War was China’s fourth and final imperialist conflict of the post-1949 period. Previous studies of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War have generally portrayed China’s policy as a military failure. Although true from a strictly military viewpoint, this chapter will strive to re-evaluate the central role that Sino-Soviet diplomatic relations played in China’s decision to attack Vietnam. Most importantly, it will link the timing of the Sino-Vietnamese conflict to the anniversary of the signing of the 1950 Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance on 14 February 1979; China invaded Vietnam on 17 February 1979, only three days after this anniversary. After reassuring itself that Moscow would not intervene, Beijing informed Moscow on 3 April 1979 that it intended to cancel the 1950 Sino-Soviet treaty.
