This article discusses the historical conflict that erupted between China and Vietnam on February 17, 1979, largely stemming from Vietnam's intervention in Cambodia against the authoritarian regime of Pol Pot. The tensions between the two nations had drastically increased following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, as Vietnam sought to expand its influence by engaging militarily in Laos and aligning itself more closely with the Soviet Union.

In January 1979, after Vietnam successfully overthrew Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia, China, feeling threatened by Vietnam's growing power and sympathetic to the Khmer Rouge, launched an invasion. For one month, intense and brutal fighting ensued, with both sides sustaining heavy casualties. The conflict was marked by China's attempts to assert its dominance in the region—a move that ultimately backfired, as the Chinese military found itself in a drawn-out confrontation.

Despite its initial advances, China was unable to maintain its hold and had to retreat, which significantly impacted the geopolitical dynamics in Southeast Asia. The article highlights the historical significance of this conflict, illustrating how it shaped relations between China and Vietnam and influenced regional stability in the years that followed.