The Sino-Vietnamese War also known by other names was a brief conflict that occurred in early between China and Vietnam. China launched an offensive ostensibly in response to Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia in , which ended the rule of the Chinese-backed Khmer Rouge.
The conflict lasted for about a month, with China withdrawing its troops in March In February , Chinese forces launched a surprise invasion of northern Vietnam and quickly captured several cities near the border. On 6 March of that year, China declared that its punitive mission had been accomplished. Chinese troops then withdrew from Vietnam.
Vietnam continued to occupy Cambodia until , suggesting that China failed to achieve its stated aim of dissuading Vietnam from involvement in Cambodia.
China's operation at least forced Vietnam to withdraw the 2nd Corps, from the invasion forces of Cambodia to reinforce the defense of Hanoi. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in , the Sino-Vietnamese border was agreed.
Although unable to deter Vietnam from ousting Pol Pot from Cambodia, China demonstrated that the Soviet Union, its Cold War communist adversary, was unable to protect its Vietnamese ally.
