18 February 1979

Feb.7, 1979: “China has behaved with restraint, but Vietnam must be punished for invading Cambodia,” Chinese Vice Premier Deng tells the Japanese PM. However, he stopped short of threatening direct military intervention.

Washington Star reports the Soviets moved a “war fleet” off the Vietnamese coast, as China formed a potential Chinese invasion force. China amassed a force of five armies, but Vietnam’s side of the border is lightly garrisoned, as its army isfighting the Khmer Rouge