Battle of Cao Ba Lanh

Battle of Cao Ba Lanh
Part of the Sino-Vietnamese War, Battle of Móng Cái
Map of Chinese attack routes: the battle took place in the northeast near Loc Binh
Date 16–19 February 1979 Location Cao Ba Lanh, Bình Liêu District, Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam Result PLA seize Cao Ba Lanh Vietnamese Victory
Belligerents
China	Vietnam
Strength
1 regiment (up to 2,800 men)[1]	1 platoon (initially) 1 regiment (by the 19th)
Casualties and losses
62 casualties in initial attacks, 360 casualties in regimental-sized attacks[2] Total: 422 casualties Radio Hanoi claim: 700 casualties	Initial attacks: At least 2 from original platoon were witnessed being killed according to a veteran[3] 109 killed in total[4]

The Battle of Cao Ba Lanh (also known as the Battle of Hill 1050) was part of the Battle of Móng Cái, fought during the Sino-Vietnamese War between February and March 1979 near the city of Móng Cái and other districts of Quảng Ninh Province that bordered the People's Republic of China. The battle broke out as Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) units launched diversionary attacks in support of the Chinese invasion in the major fronts of Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng and Lào Cai.^[5] A Chinese regiment clashed with a Vietnamese platoon, taking heavy casualties to seize the strategic peak which was later recaptured by reinforcements.^[6]