Geopolitical Tragedy

The thaw in Sino-Soviet relations stirred anxiety in another socialist country—Vietnam, which had long aligned closely with the Soviet Union. Do Muoi, Vietnam's head of government and a figure known for his deep-seated conflicts with China, was unsettled by the recent warming of ties between the two great powers. Determined to secure Moscow's support, he decided to visit in person to seek help from Yanayev.

Vietnam still clung to confidence. For the Soviet Union, China was the strategic ally that best served its interests. As the socialist bloc in Europe weakened, only a handful of socialist countries remained in Asia—China, North Korea, and Vietnam among them. If even these small nations withdrew their support, the Soviet Union's fate would be sealed.

Yet when the news of Do Muoi's impending visit landed on Yanayev's desk, he barely glanced at it before tossing it straight into the trash, muttering under his breath, "Disgusting Vietnamese monkey."

Pavlov frowned, uneasy at the General Secretary's blatant disdain. "Comrade Yanayev, you may dislike Vietnam, but such an attitude risks alienating our other allies. Diplomatically, it's unwise."

Yanayev shot a cold look at Pavlov. "Tell me, Comrade Pavlov, which do you think is more worthwhile: maintaining cozy ties with China, or endlessly pouring money into hopeless fools?"

Pavlov hesitated. "But they are socialist allies. Wouldn't this risk discouraging them?"

"Discouraged?" Yanayev scoffed. "We've raised nothing but rubbish. None of these countries develop their own economies. They only know how to beg for money and weapons. Eventually, they become ripe for peaceful evolution—just like those in Eastern Europe. And I'm not only talking about them. Every country peacefully evolved into something else is garbage."

"I'm already doing them a favor by agreeing to meet Do Muoi. If he dares to ask for military aid, I'll kick him out of the Kremlin in minutes," Yanayev added coldly.

The Soviet Union was a military giant with overwhelming strength; Yanayev could afford such bluntness. "And don't even think about threatening to join NATO. They don't have the strength or status to earn the Soviet Union's respect."

When Do Muoi arrived at Moscow International Airport, he was surprised to find Soviet Prime Minister Pavlov waiting to greet him instead of Yanayev. Pavlov explained the General Secretary had caught a cold and was unwell, asking for Do Muoi's understanding.

"I see," Do Muoi said, nodding. "Prime Minister Pavlov, please convey my sincere wishes for General Secretary Yanayev's speedy recovery." He asked his assistant to translate his message into Russian.

Pavlov smiled slyly. "You may have to deliver that message yourself, General Secretary Yanayev is already waiting for you at the Kremlin."

Do Muoi's eyes gleamed. "It would be best to meet him in person."

At the Kremlin, Yanayev rose and greeted Do Muoi with a smile and handshake under the watchful gaze of cameras. But beneath the surface, Yanayev's eyes revealed a barely concealed contempt.

The meeting began with Do Muoi reciting the usual platitudes about the historic friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union—from the support during the Vietnam War against France to the assistance during the conflict with the United States. Yanayev remained silent, nodding occasionally, letting him talk.

"Recently, we noticed your country has signed arms deals with China," Do Muoi continued boldly. "Given our ongoing territorial disputes with neighboring powers, we hope the Soviet Union can increase military aid to Vietnam."

Yanayev's smile didn't falter, but inside he was stunned by Do Muoi's brazenness.

"And if we refuse to provide military aid?" Yanayev asked, his voice calm but probing.

Do Muoi's expression hardened. "Then, General Secretary Yanayev, we may no longer be able to follow the declining international communist movement. There are few communist countries left. Does the Soviet Union want to lose its last ally?"

"Is that a threat?" Yanayev asked.

"No, just advice," Do Muoi replied.

Yanayev shook his head with quiet disdain. "The Soviet Union no longer prioritizes ideology. Do you understand? Whether communist or capitalist, if we share common interests, we are allies."

Do Muoi was momentarily speechless. The Big Brother himself had just admitted ideology no longer mattered. Was the socialist camp really changing?

"Take our arms sales to China," Yanayev explained. "We cooperate because of shared interests. There's no pure friendship between countries, only relationships based on interests. I hope you, as a smaller country, can understand that."

Yanayev's mask of revolutionary camaraderie fell away completely, revealing the ruthless temperament of a five-gangster lord. His aristocratic disdain pierced the air like a knife.

"You don't need to rush to threaten me," Yanayev said, voice calm but icy. "Let me put it bluntly: I could sell you out in the blink of an eye—for the benefit of China and the Soviet Union alike. Believe that or not, I still have plenty of destroyers and frigates in my arsenal. If I sell just a handful of them, do you think the Vietnamese Navy could still dare act recklessly in the Nansha Islands?"

Du Mei's confidence faltered. His hopes had just taken a serious hit. If he truly offended the Soviet Union and pushed Moscow to increase military sales to China, Vietnam's grip on the South China Sea would slip away entirely.

Yanayev crossed his legs and continued, his tone languid but deadly serious. "So now, Comrade Du Mei, do you still think you have the leverage to bargain with me? Small countries must understand their place—know their own weight. Don't follow the nonsense of some North African leader who foolishly declared the Chechens just, and accused the Soviet Union of dictatorship. That man offended all the wrong people and paid a painful price. Does Comrade Du Mei want to follow in his footsteps?"

"I dare not, I dare not," Du Mei stammered, sweat beading on his brow. He had entered the meeting thinking he could threaten the Soviet Union for concessions, but now he saw clearly—he had no cards to play against Yanayev.

Yanayev smirked, satisfied. "I like your attitude. Since we are guests here, I won't make things difficult for you. I don't have any military aid to offer, but I do have arms for sale. We recently started selling T-72 tanks. If you're interested, we can offer them to you at a favorable price."

Du Mei's eyes lit up with renewed hope. The tanks Vietnam had purchased in previous Soviet Far East disarmament rounds were second-hand regular Russian army tanks, far superior to the export models. Buying a fresh batch at a discount would significantly boost Vietnam's armored forces.

"Are they the official version?" Du Mei asked eagerly, rubbing his hands.

Yanayev quickly doused his enthusiasm. "No, they're our export version. But the price can be discounted."

Du Mei's face fell. Yanayev shrugged nonchalantly. "No worries. If you don't think it's necessary, I won't force you. After all, others are waiting to buy my destroyers and frigates. You can always purchase arms from Western countries—they'd be happy to sell to you. But, General Secretary Du Mei, I'll be sure you understand what the biggest geopolitical tragedy of the late 20th century truly is."

Yanayev's threats were spoken as casually as if discussing the weather, his contempt barely concealed beneath a veneer of indifference.