A TIMELINE OF THE
TWO CRISES
by PHI-VÂN NGUYEN
January 2020
The July 1979 Conference on the Indochinese Refugees was the result of two processes. On the one hand, it offered a solution to the humanitarian crisis. On the other hand, it also provided a solution to the Third Indochina War, opposing Vietnam to China and Cambodia. Use the shortcuts above or scroll down to see the timeline.
A Political Crisis
A HUMANITARIAN Crisis
REVOLUTIONS
17 APR. 1975. The Khmer Rouge seize Phnom Penh and overthrow the Republic of Cambodia.
30 APR. 1975. Vietnamese tanks enter Saigon, marking the end of the Second Indochina War.
WAR REFUGEES
Millions are displaced within the Indochinese peninsula. Hundreds of thousands flee Vietnam and Cambodia in the wake of the two Communist take overs. In the following months, people mainly reach Thailand by land. The majority of them resettle in the United States and in France.
NO AUTOMATIC NORMALIZATION
The United States pressure Vietnam since the 1973 Paris Peace Agreement to let civilians leave the territories controlled by the Provisional Revolutionary Government. Washington continues to use the issues of POWs and MIAs, as well as refugees as a condition attached to the normalization of relationships.
6 AUG. 1975. The United States veto the application of North and South Vietnam to the United Nations.
ONE SOCIALIST VIETNAM
2 JUL. 1976. North and South Vietnam merge into a new state, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Saigon also changes its name to Ho Chi Minh City.
RETRIBUTIONS AND DISRUPTIONS
In Vietnam, former civil servants and other officers previously attached to the former authorities and American military presence become the target of political reeducation. Many civilians are being sent to New Economic Zones.
In Cambodia, the reforms are even more radical. In the days following their victory, the Khmer Rouges force the evacuation of all cities. People head to the countryside. Those who can flee reached Thailand or Vietnam.
TENSIONS ESCALATE
22 APR. 1977. Within Vietnam, foreign residents are being forbidden to work in certain industries with the Decision 122-CP of April 22. Ethnic Chinese are disproportionately targeted by this decision.
30 APR. 1977. The Cambodian Army launches attacks to the Vietnamese provinces of Ăn Giang and Châu Đốc. Tensions escalate between Vietnam and Cambodia. The two countries break their diplomatic relationship in December.
THE SECOND BATTLE OF SAIGON
23 MAR. 1978. Hanoi launches what historian Alexander Woodside calls “The Second Battle of Saigon” a series of war campaigns against private business, capital and shopkeepers.
PEOPLE LEAVE THE INDOCHINESE PENINSULA BY BOATS
People embarks on boats to seek refuge overseas. While neighbouring countries initially allow these small boats to disembark, they worry as the newcomers keep coming.
HANOI REQUESTS THE HELP OF UNHCR
8 APR. 1978. Hanoi formally requests the assistance of the UNHCR for Khmer refugees in Vietnamese territory.
UNHCR AND WORLD FOOD PROGRAM VISIT VIETNAM
17–27 MAY. 1978. Officers of the UNHCR and World Food Programme visit refugee camps in Vietnam and conduct interviews. While they doubt that the respondents are fully representative of all displaced population, they nevertheless realize that the displaced population is fleeing a regime discriminating between “old people” and “new people.”
ORGANIZING A CONSULTATION MEETING
9–17 OCT. 1978. The UNHCR Executive Committee meet in its twenty-ninth session. It recommends the creation of a wider consultation meeting with states in Southeast Asia to find a solution to the crisis.
27 OCT. 1978. Poul Hartling, the High Commissioner invites members of the UNHCR Executive Committee, Southeast Asian states, and countries involved in resettlement to meet in Geneva in December.
UNHCR SEIZES THE MOMENTUM
13 NOV. 1978. Poul Hartling gives a statement at the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee’s meeting.
23–4 NOV. 1978. A boat capsizes causing 200 deaths. Only 50 survive.
24 NOV. 1978. Vietnam declares it will not attend the consultation meeting. It changes its mind later on.
25 NOV. 1978. After weeks at sea, countries finally commit to resettle passengers of the Hai Hong.
29 NOV. 1978. The United Nations General Assembly votes a resolution urging governments to “continue to facilitate the work of the High Commissioner.”
29 NOV. 1978. Pour Hartling sends a background note to countries for the forthcoming consultation meeting.
VIETNAM’S CONTROL OVER CAMBODIA
10 JAN. 1979. Khmer rebels and the Vietnamese Army enter Phnom Penh. The People’s Republic of Kampuchea is created.
29 JAN. 1979. Deng Xiaoping arrives in the United States for an official visit. In a private conversation he asks Jimmy Carter what would be Washington’s reaction if Beijing taught a lesson to Hanoi.
RESETTLING PASSENGERS OF THE HAI HONG
In January 1979, countries conduct interviews to select the passengers of the Hai Hong they were willing to resettle. The United States eventually takes the residual cases.
18 FEB. 1979. USSR’s Politburo unanimously votes to dispatch troops closer to Chinese border and send an ultimatum to Beijing.
5 MAR. 1979. The Xin Hua News Agency announces that the Chinese Army has attained its objective.
16 MAR. 1979. The Chinese Army completes its withdrawal from Vietnam.
16 MAR. 1979. The Chinese permanent representative at the United Nations meets with Kurt Waldheim, the Secretary-General.
18 APR. 1979. Bilateral negotiations between China and Vietnam start in Hanoi.
30 APR. 1979. Kurt Waldheim arrives in China.
NEW PRIME MINISTER IN THE UK
3 MAY. 1979. Margaret Thatcher wins the general elections, bringing a new leadership of the United Kingdom.
13 MAY. 1979. Kurt Waldheim visits refugees in Thailand.
15 JUN. 1979. Mohamed Bin Mahathir, Deputy Prime Minister declares that refugees will be expelled and newcomers will be shot at sight.
CONVERGING INTERESTS
28 JUN. 1979. The G7 countries meet in Tokyo and declare their support to the organization of a conference.
28–30 JUN. 1979. ASEAN countries meet in Bali and welcome the G7 countries’ declaration.
MOUNTING PRESSURE
10 JUL. 1979. China makes a statement at the ECOSOC meeting pointing at Vietnam’s responsibility in the political and humanitarian crises.
12 JUL. 1979. Kurt Waldheim meets with Margaret Thatcher in London.
WHAT’S NEXT
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