| On 17 February 1979,China proclaimed to counterattack to Vietnam for a series of border harassments,which made conflicts between China and Vietnam be public.They reflected differences on the border,refugees,Cambodia between these two communist countries.However,the impact of these conflicts was not confined to the Indo-china,but also attracted the attention of the United States,Britain,ASEAN and other countries.As early as late 1978,Britain was concerned about the situation in the region,and took measures to deal with them in accordance with its own interests.After Cambodia was invaded by Vietnam in 1978,British embassies and departments made corresponding judgments on the situation in Cambodia,Thailand and Sino-Vietnamese border,and adopted measures to delay economic aid to Vietnam.Around China's counterattack,British government exchanged information with the United States,Australia and other allies,and also urged the countries concerned,such as Vietnam,China and the Soviet Union,to exercise restraint.On the other hand,the British government insisted on the original plan and made a low-key deal on whether to send the Industry Minister Varley to visit China as scheduled.On the international stage,they co-sponsored a security council meeting with the United States,France,Portugal and Norway,and encouraged the ASEAN countries to put forward the draft resolution on "double withdrawal".After it was blocked,they then explored other possibilities,such as convening an international conference on Indo-China.Through discussing these measures,we can further understand the characteristics of solution of British government in this diplomatic crisis,such as initiative,flexibility and reality.At the same time,we can further explore the influence of these measures on the war process itself and the development of Sino-British relations.In the long term,this article will also explore their impact on the peaceful settlement of the region's problems in the 1980 s. |
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