The Sino-Viet War: Causes, Conduct, and Consequences

Although the 28-day military campaign has ended, the full consequences of the Sino-Viet War will not be felt for some time. These consequences are likely to have profound and persisting effects on the major relationships in East Asia. Some of these effects are beginning to emerge, and a preliminary analysis suggests the following developments PRC-Vietnam relations will be hostile as both sides upgrade military defenses along the 1300-kilometer border USSR-Vietnam relations will necessarily be expanded over the short term PRC-USSR relations will remain strained as the Soviets supply sophisticated weapons to a hostile Vietnam PRC-US relations will not be significantly affected, although there will be some changes in domestic priorities US-Vietnam relations will improve over the longer term as we attempt to make Hanoi less dependent on Moscow Cambodia will turn to outside help, possibly an international conference, in the absence of anyone capable of restoring order.