Economic Cold War: Chinese economic aid to Vietnam, 1954–1975

ABSTRACT In both the first and second Indochina wars, Vietnam had a wide range of support from socialist countries, especially from its neighbour China, which was called the ‘elder brother’. From the 1950s, China assisted Vietnam in its resistance against the United States and its allies. By comparing changes in Chinese grants and loans to key moments in the anti-American war in Vietnam, this article argues that Beijing’s assistance was tied to US actions in South East Asia. The view from Vietnamese archival materials shows shifts in Chinese support that coincide with Beijing’s strategic calculation in dealing with the US in the global conflict. Although both Vietnam and China were in the socialist camp and had a shared ideology, there were profound contradictions in Chinese assistance to Hanoi. The article reveals that while supporting Vietnam, China pursued its own benefits, leading to Vietnam’s suspicion about China’s real intentions in Indochina. This perspective can explain why the war between China and Vietnam happened in 1979, soon after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.