Blood Spilled in Southern Xinjiang, 1979

From 1979 to 1993, China and Vietnam faced off for fourteen years. Vietnam repeatedly instigated bloody incidents along the border, until the Chinese People's Liberation Army could no longer tolerate it and launched a counterattack in self-defense to protect its territory. Let us revisit the wartime chronicles of the Eastern Front (Guangxi–Lang Son), the Central Front (the Battle of Laoshan), and the Western Front (Hekou–Lao Cai) from 1979 to 1984 to 1993.

Eastern Front: From February to April 1979, Chinese forces crossed the border from Guangxi to launch a counterattack in self-defense against Vietnam. Major engagements included the Battle of Cao Bang, the fighting at the Nongmei Tunnel, deep-penetration maneuvers and encirclements, the assault on Cao Bang city, the assault on Dong Dang, the Dong Dang flanking operation to block enemy reinforcements, battles for Kouma Mountain and Hill 417, attacks on and defenses of Mimai Mountain, the offensive at Shuojiang–Chaling, battles for Baguling and Hill 873, as well as the South China Sea conflict;

Central Front: Major engagements included the main assault on Laoshan, the 118th Regiment's assault, fierce fighting at Zheyin Mountain, Balihe East Mountain, the victory at Songmaoling, the 15 warriors of Hill 142, the disastrous defeat at Hill 211, Blue Sword-B, the 16 warriors of Xiaojian Mountain, Operation 852, battles at Nanlang, Qingshuihe, Xiaoqingshan, and Niukuntang, sniper exploits, the bayonet-fighting company, Hill 1072 (the 4th Company held out for 97 days), the major battle at Hill 1015, the Anhui Squad of nine wiping out an enemy company, sweeping through Nala, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, and more;

Western Front: In March 1979, forces crossed from Hekou. Engagements included the forced crossing of the Red River, the flanking operation at Chuantou, the ten-hour assault on Lao Cai, the night raid on Lamin, the encirclement at Gantang, battles for Hills 1073 and 1298, the destruction of the 345th Division, assaults in the mountains of Sapa, the struggle for the main peak of the Hoang Lien Son range, and the bloody battle at the unnamed hill of Dainai.