Interpretation of the Events of the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 by the Periodical Press of Western Countries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2687-0967-2025-52-3-619-630Keywords:
Vietnam, China, Sino-Vietnamese war, periodicals, Western countries, USSR, Sino-Vietnamese relationsAbstract
The article analyzes the way the Western press interpreted the events of the Sino-Vietnamese conflict in 1979. The author points out that the periodicals of Western countries took a unified approach. The study reveals that Western media did not blame China for starting an aggressive war. Instead, they glossed over "uncomfortable" facts about the true causes of the conflict and China's actions on foreign soil. Additionally, the media exaggerated the "Soviet threat," which was contrasted with the "peace efforts" of the United States and its allies. Despite China's apparent failure in Vietnam, it was not portrayed as the losing side. The article explains why Western media treated China with benevolent neutrality. According to the author, this position is closely linked to the positive development in relations between China and the West during the second half of the 1970s. Additionally, the paper highlights the significant difference in how socialist China and socialist Vietnam were perceived in the socio-political landscape of Western countries at that time. The author draws a conclusion regarding the politicization of the Western media's coverage of the Sino-Vietnamese conflict and emphasizes the importance of adopting a critical approach when analyzing this type of historical source.
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