Chinese scholar: Dien Bien Phu- the victory of the national spirit

Although 60 years have elapsed since the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, for many foreign scholars, how a small country like Vietnam could defeat such powerful French colonialists is still a subject that is worthy of thorough study.

Several conclusions have been made, but the most convincing argument for many foreign scholars is still resilient and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.

In observance of the 60^th Dien Bien Phu victory, a Beijing-based Voice of Vietnam (VOV) correspondent interviewed Professor Xu Liping about the causes resulting in the resounding victory.

Professor Xu Liping, a researcher on Vietnam and Southeast Asia  from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Excerpts from the interview:

VOV:  According to you Professor, what is the main cause that allowed a small country like Vietnam to emerge victorious over the mighty colonial France?

Mr Xu Liping:  On the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, I would like to say something about the causes of the successes of this historic campaign.

First, the victory of Dien Bien Phu campaign is the victory of justice, the victory of the national liberation movements in Asian, African, and Latin American nations before the yoke of colonial powers after the World War II . 

Despite suffering a protracted war, the final victory belonged to Vietnam that represents the just factions.

Second, Vietnam with its diligent, hard and unyielding people does not yield to any difficult situation. I think that the fundamental cause of the Dien Bien Phu victory stemmed from Vietnamese people’s resilient and indomitable spirit.

Third, I think that Vietnamese people are very intelligent. Vietnam received aid and assistance from the Soviet Union and China at that time. The Vietnamese people quickly grasped foreign technical advances to make them suit the situation in the country. This is an important factor in helping Vietnam claim the victory.

And finally, I believe that in the campaign of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam received the support from the international community, including the Soviet Union and China.  All of the above-mentioned reasons partially help explain why a small country like Vietnam could defeat a powerful colonial empire like France.

VOV: What is the decisive factor that enabled Vietnam to achieve the last victory in the 1954 Dien Bien Phu campaign? 

Mr Xu Liping:  Chinese scholars are going ahead with their studies and analysis on the determinants leading to the victory of Vietnam in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. However, in my personal opinion, the decisive role remained rested on Vietnam. That is the will and spirit of indomitable resilience of the Vietnamese people and the clear-sighted leadership and skillful command of President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap.

VOV: What is your assessment of the impact of the Dien Bien Phu victory on the struggle for national liberation from the then colonial French rule?

Mr. Xu Liping: As a researcher, I believe that the Dien Bien Phu victory not only has an important influence in the region but worldwide.

The Dien Bien Phu victory is of great significance, not only expelling French colonialists from Vietnam, from the Indochinese peninsula, but also affecting the global situation.

The Dien Bien Phu victory was a claim for the countries in the world that the spirit of indomitable resilience, self-reliance, and know-how to enlist the support of righteous forces worldwide, the oppressed nations like Vietnam, absolutely can defeat any powerful colonial enemy.

VOV: Thank you very much.