Battle of Mong Cai

Battle of Móng Cái
Part of the Sino-Vietnamese War
Location of Quảng Ninh Province within Vietnam
Date 16 February–10 March 1979 Location Móng Cái and vicinity, Quảng Ninh Province, northern Vietnam Result Vietnamese victory
Belligerents
China	Vietnam

The Battle of Mong Cai was fought during the Sino-Vietnamese War between 16 February–10 March 1979 over the city of Móng Cái and other districts of Quảng Ninh Province that bordered the People's Republic of China. The battle broke out as Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) units launched diversionary attacks in support of the Chinese invasion in the major fronts of Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng and Lào Cai. However, the Chinese failed to attract any Vietnamese reinforcements into the battle.

Battle

Initiated earlier than the overall invasion, Chinese operations in Quảng Ninh area began at around 23:00 on 16 February with artillery shelling and an infantry assault against Hoành Mô, Bình Liêu District. On 17 February, the township of Móng Cái and the Xuan Hoa state farm were also subjected to Chinese artillery bombardment. Later on the day, PLA troops contested the six-kilometer perimeter within the vicinity of Móng Cái, as well as positions in Quảng Hà District near Pò Hèn.^[1] Attacks against Móng Cái were renewed on 20 and 21 February from assembly positions in Dongxing, Guangxi.^[2] Fighting waned until 2 March, when Chinese forces stormed Hill 781 in Bình Liêu District. On 3 March, the PLA struck Hill 1050. Both of the attacks were repulsed at a loss of 750 casualties, according to a Vietnamese report.^[3] Chinese artillery continued pounding Vietnamese positions until 10 March in coordination with infantry raids in smaller scales. On 10 March alone, 3,000 shells were fired against Móng Cái and other border points in Quảng Ninh.^[4]

Aftermath

As Quảng Ninh was a place of virtually no strategic importance, Chinese attacks in the province could have proved wrong and wasteful, unless they had been explained as an attempt to distract the Vietnam People's Army from the major offensives. In fact, however, the assaults failed, not only to draw Vietnamese reinforcements to the area, but also to capture or retain any positions from the enemy.^[5] PLA personnel's lack of military skills was illustrated in the battle for Cao Ba Lanh, a strategic peak located 9 km from the border crossing at Hoành Mô: a regiment-sized Chinese force, after five hours staging numerous waves of mass formation attacks and the toll of 360 casualties, were eventually able to capture a height defended by a single Vietnamese platoon.^[6]

According to Edward C. O'Dowd, the defeat in Quảng Ninh Province was clearly perceived by Chinese leadership. Among China's announcements about their "great victory" in the war, there was no mention about the fighting in Quảng Ninh.^[7]

Notes

1. O'Dowd, p. 64. Citing from FBIS, Southeast Asia, 21 February 1979, p. K-7.
2. O'Dowd, p. 64. Citing from FBIS, Southeast Asia, 27 February 1979, p. K-10.
3. O'Dowd, p. 64. Citing from FBIS, Southeast Asia, 5 March 1979, p. K-27.
4. O'Dowd, p. 64. Citing from FBIS, Southeast Asia, 12 March 1979, p. K-13.
5. O'Dowd, p. 64.
6. O'Dowd, p.64-65.
7. O'Dowd, p. 65. Citing from FBIS, China, 19 March 1979, p. E-1.

References

• Edward C. O'Dowd (2007). Chinese Military Strategy in the Third Indochina War: The Last Maoist War. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0203088964.