Reflecting on the People’s Liberation Army’s 1979 War with Vietnam: Why 29,000 Casualties in Just 28 Days?

Six Crucial Lessons for Deep Reflection

As a Chinese citizen, my knowledge about the Sino-Vietnamese conflict of the late 1970s, which occurred before I was born, comes from my father’s stories and my own research, driven by personal interest during my time in school libraries.

The 1979 Sino-Vietnamese counter-offensive lasted from February 17 to March 16, during which the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fully withdrew from Vietnam. In just 28 days, the PLA inflicted heavy losses on the Vietnamese army, killing over 57,000 and capturing more than 2,200.

Conversely, the conflict resulted in over 8,000 PLA soldiers killed and more than 21,000 wounded. What lessons did we learn from this battle?

1. Unfamiliar Terrain and Enemy Tactics

The conflict mainly unfolded on Vietnamese soil, involving primarily ground troops. From the start, the Vietnamese used their geographical advantage and familiarity with the terrain to evade our forces’ initial assaults.

Vietnam’s predominantly tropical climate, dense vegetation, and numerous caves provided perfect hiding spots for their troops. Many Vietnamese soldiers used these natural formations to avoid large-scale engagements, complicating the PLA’s multiple-front offensive strategies.