Can the Vietnam war lead to A Sino-American/NATO war

[Kongzilla]

So as the Title says. Can a conflict involving NATO/America and China occur during the Vietnam War spreading off into it's own conflict essentially. How would a conflict go where would the Battles happen, would it cause WW3 even with the Sino-Soviet split. And would an invasion of mainland China occur with the KMT trying to grab control again and would that speed up the democratization process.

 

[Uruk]

NATO has no obligations in Asia so I assume you mean SEATO/ANZUS

 

[Kongzilla]

Yep, I'm not good with treaties and such, SEATO is the one. I should know that my countries one of them. But I would Assume countries like India would join in.

 

[Paul MacQ]

Is from the Wiki but sounds about right

Despite its name, SEATO mostly included countries located outside of the region but with an interest either in the region or the organization itself. They are: Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan (including East Pakistan, now Bangladesh), the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[12]

The Philippines and Thailand were the only Southeast Asia countries that actually participated in the organization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia_Treaty_Organization

established on 19 February 1955
dissolved on 30 June 1977

 

[Kongzilla]

So who would be on each side. SEATO and America on one side. And who would be backing China. if the Americans do invade would the Russians start throwing weapons and equipment at the Chinese to try and hurt America.

I assume the Americans would take is chance to do as much damage to the Chinese as possible. What would the targets be. Recapture surrounding Chinese allies if they have any etc etc.

 

[Gunnarnz]

... I would Assume countries like India would join in.

You might be assuming wrongly. Don't forget that India was the founder of the "non-aligned movement", which was composed of countries trying to stay out of the US/USSR faceoff. That doesn't mean that they won't be brought in against their will, perhaps as a result of attacks from one side or the other, but it's by no means a certainty.

 

[Bernard Woolley]

How about the scenario used in The War Game (1965)? To boil it down PRC invades South Vietnam, POTUS autherises use of tac nukes, USSR blockages W. Berlin as a show of solidarity with the PRC. Things generally get worse from that point as NATO tries to drive troops through to Berlin.

 

[Kongzilla]

Can it be limited to a US-Sino plus assorted allies without WW3 occuring. But full steam ahead if it must. I was hoping it could be a much much larger Proxy war type thing. I was thinking that with the Sino-Soviet split the USSR wouldn't be rushing to help the Chinese with anything other than weapons and equipment.

Also does anyone have any links to the equipment, tactics, combat capability and overall general information on both sides. So the PLA and US Army/USMC etc

Now why exactly would China invade south Vietnam. Maybe if the USA invades North Vietnam, China steps in like in the Korean War. Escalates from there

 

[Kongzilla]

I was thinking maybe around 68-69 that the escalation occurs. Is there a way to get the American people more motivated in the fight against china. Maybe the Chinese give the NVA a nuke or Mao just decides to hurl it at the Invading US forces. Pearl Harbour/9 11 reaction. But the Invasion I think would need to happen before Tet.

USSR says "Fuck this China your on your own" due to the split and the fact that the USSR doesn't want their country nuked because of Mao. Asia becomes a battlefield.

How long would the PLA last against the US army. Mass conscription and what not. And would the United States refrain from using nukes to secure a puppet effectively in china. Or at least start a second Chinese civil war.