The Western narrative about China and Vietnam is that although they’re both communist, they hate each other, mainly over sovereignty of the ocean in Southeast Asia? Knowing the West’s track record on reporting things about communist countries I’m hesitant to just believe it. So is this true? Anyone got any reading material on the topic?
Whatever tensions and disagreements there might be, calling it “hate” is an exaggeration. So to answer your question, they don’t hate each other. Their relationship has actually been improving recently: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2021-04/26/c_139907670.htm
Yup, historically its been very strained, but now is probably better than it ever has been.
The Sino-Vietnamese war happened in the late 70’s and (technically, via stalemate) lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Vietnamese forces remained in Cambodia - the sparker of the war was Vietnamese troops trying to end Pol Pot’s reign, a reign that China mistakenly supported - until 1989. The people who fought in the border wars, and who stood ready to go into action until 1992 are still living for both sides of the conflict. This can make relations a little hairy at times, especially when it feels or looks like the PRC is trying to extend its power over Vietnam and the surrounding regions.
But, they don’t hate each other, and with the New Cold War brewing, it seems Sino-Vietnamese relations are being repaired. Western media really likes to lean into headlines like “a rocky future for Sino-Vietnamese relations” or “These communist countries hate each other, find out 10 reasons why. number 7 will slurp your ramen right out of your colon”
As far as I can tell, the war is the major issue between the two countries, but as the politicians involved in the violent parts of the conflict either die or retire, it might be safe to assume the tensions caused by the conflict may relax. But, I’m spitballing on that point.
The US is trying to do historical recreations of the sino soviet split, and manufacture new fake controversies between China and Vietnam. Luckily both are failing.
Eh, it’s more a large subset of the Vietnamese people that hate China; not sure about the Chinese people in this regard.
The governments are, so far, amending their relationship.
