So you compare yourself to INDIA? Not the rest of the world?
Mao's era was far worse than India even at 50-60s. CN GDP per capita was lower, CN peasants were starving as Mao and Deng admitted.
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Before we were to leave, Mao met with Brother Truong Chinh and myself. Mao sat down to chat with us, and in the end he announced: “Comrades, I would like you to know this.
I will be president of 500 million land-hungry peasants, and I will bring an army to strike downwards into Southeast Asia.” Also seated there, Deng Xiaoping added
: “It is mainly because the poor peasants are in such dire straits!”
Once we were outside, I told Brother Truong Chinh: “There you have it, the plot to take our country and Southeast Asia. It is clear now.” They dared to announce it in such a way. They thought we would not understand. It is true that not a minute goes by that they do not think of fighting Vietnam!
I will say more to you comrades so that you may see more of the military importance of this matter. Mao asked me:
In Laos, how many square kilometers [of land] are there?
I answered:
About 200,000 [sq. km.].
What is its population? [Mao asked]:
[I answered]: Around 3 million!
[Mao responded:] That’s not very much! I’ll bring my people there, indeed!
[Mao asked:] How many square kilometers [of land] are there in Thailand?.
[I responded]: About 500,000 [sq. km.].
And how many people? [Mao asked].
About 40 million! [I answered].
My God! [Mao said], Szechwan province of China has 500,000 sq. km., but has 90 million people. I’ll take some more of my people there, too [to Thailand]!
As for Vietnam, they did not dare to speak about moving in people this way. However, he [Mao] told me: “Comrade, isn’t it true that your people have fought and defeated the Yuan army?” I said: “Correct.” “Isn’t it also true, comrade, that you defeated the Qing army?” I said: “Correct.” He said: “And the Ming army as well?” I said: “Yes, and you too. I have beaten you as well. Did you know that?” I spoke with Mao Zedong in that way.
He said: “Yes, yes!” He wanted to take Laos, all of Thailand – as well as wanting to take all of Southeast Asia. Bringing people to live there. It was complicated [to that point].
@somsak , @Lux de Veritas , @Nihonjin1051 , @gambit , Comrade B on the Plot of the Reactionary Chinese Clique Against Vietnam Date: 1979 Source: People’s Army Library, Hanoi. Document obtained and translated for CWIHP by Christopher Goscha Description: Speech by Comrade B (Le Duan) regarding...
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