China punishes Vietnam*
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Date: March 3, 1979*                     
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Battle Location: Lang Son, Vietnam*
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Battle Type: Chinese advance vs. North Vietnamese delay*
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Design by:  The Camo Workshop*
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Scenario description: From the Washington Post, March 4, 1979:  "Hanoi reported continued fierce fighting Saturday around the key border town of Lang Son as China launched an international propaganda offensive at the beginning of the third week of its invasion of Vietnam . . .*
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"Peking has said it wants to 'punish' Vietnam for years of border provocations, although it appears even more concerned with Hanoi's close ties to the Soviet Union and Hanoi's invasion of Cambodia.  Some diplomats have speculated that the capture of Lang Son would permit the Chinese to pronounce the invasion a success and withdraw, as they have repeatedly promised to do eventually . . .* 
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"Analysts here said they could not confirm reports from some sources in Bangkok that Chinese troops have entered Lang Son, which controls major rail and road lines to Hanoi 85 miles away.  Chinese units equipped with tanks and heavy artillery appear to have engaged in hillside fights for several days with Vietnamese forces in the area, but analysts say they have no clear idea who is winning . . .*
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"Eye witnesses said Lang Son was almost entirely deserted by its 40,000 civilian population a week ago, and surrounding hills reportedly are being used by entrenched Vietnamese units to shell the advancing Chinese.  Analysts said Chinese troops appeared to have been trying to dislodge the hillside Vietnamese positions before advancing on the town below.*
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Source:  Matthews, "Chinese Assert Viets Have Been 'Taught Lesson'", The Washington Post, March 4, 1979. 
 








