Battle of Laoshan

Battle of Laoshan
Part of Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979–1991)

Type 66 howitzer. One of the weapons used in the battle by the People's Liberation Army.
Date2 April – 4 August 1984
(4 months and 2 days)
Location
Laoshan on the China–Vietnam border near Malipo County and Vị Xuyên district
Result Chinese victory
Territorial
changes		 China takes control of Laoshan[1]
Belligerents
China China Vietnam Vietnam
Units involved

40th Division
31st Division
42nd Division

  • 1 Infantry Regiment

4th Artillery Division
14th Army

  • 1 Artillery Regiment

41st Division

  • 1 Artillery Regiment

313th Division

  • 122nd Infantry Regiment

3 other Infantry Regiments (Rear support)

168th Artillery Brigade
Strength
Offensive phase

Counteroffensive phase Unknown

Offensive phase

Counteroffensive phase 30,000–40,000[3][4]

Casualties and losses
Chinese claim:
  • 1,003 killed (Offensive)[5]

Vietnamese claim:

  • 7,500 casualties (Total)[4]
Chinese claim:
  • 2,000 casualties (Offensive)[5]
  • 3,000 casualties (12 July)[6]

Vietnamese claim:

  • 1,420 casualties (12 July)[4]

The Battle of Laoshan (Chinese: 老山戰役), known in Vietnam as the Battle of Vị Xuyên (Vietnamese: Mặt trận Vị Xuyên) was fought in 1984 between China and Vietnam as part of Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979–1991). It is considered the largest scale engagement involving both countries since the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War.[7]

  1. ^ O’Dowd, page 100
  2. ^ a b O'Dowd 2007, p. 193.
  3. ^ Zhang 2015, p. 155.
  4. ^ a b c "Hàng nghìn chiến sĩ thương vong ngày cao điểm trận chiến Vị Xuyên". vnexpress.net (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b Li 2007, p. 260.
  6. ^ Zhang 2015, p. 156.
  7. ^ O'Dowd 2007, p. 98.