Refuting allegation that Vietnam was “bellicose” and “fired the first shot” in the resistance war against French colonialism

Abstract

At present, hostile and reactionary forces are spreading many distorted historical narratives, claiming that the Vietnamese people’s resistance war against French colonialism was “unjust”, that Vietnam was “bellicose” and “fired the first shot”. These are false, unhistorical arguments with political objectives aimed at denying the just nature of the resistance war and belittling the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Using historical evidence from both domestic and international sources, the article refutes these distorted narratives and affirms the truth: Vietnam is a peace-loving nation, not bellicose and not the side that initiated armed attacks; while French colonialism was the aggressor and invader. The Vietnamese people’s resistance war against aggression was just, for independence and for peace, and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.