Why did the United States fought Vietnam and Cambodia but not china?

Question

China was comunist too and china helped cambodia and north vietnam right? did I miss something?

Answer 1

Yes, you missed something, called Nuclear. China not someone to go around stepping on their toes, they "Will" step back or stomp.
This stuff is like playing chess. It best done using your Pawns, Bishops and Knights first. Then if it get really tough you bring out the Rooks and Queen. Use the expendable first before you have to resort to a full scale attack.

Answer 2

One of the most significant points of the Vietnam Conflict (war was never actually declared, so it was a "police action") was the restraints places on the military. At first, the military was not allowed to attack North Vietnam, even though that is where the Viet Cong were being trained and supplied from. This was a political decision, and it prevented the military commanders from attacking the source, making them instead mostly react on the defensive instead of being offensive minded. Another, probably farther reaching difference is it's media coverage. That was the first war where the American and world public were able to get daily and up to date news reports and coverage of what was happening. One of the problems with this is that the people watching the chaos and destruction daily on their televisions concentrated on the numbers, not the results. This made it much more personal for many people. Because of the media coverage, soldiers were being viewed as bloody killers, (some were, but most were just trying to do their jobs) the returning soldiers were treated by many as outcasts, killers and such. The American people turned on the soldiers, instead of attacking the reason for them being there.

Answer 3

Ya China had nukes. US didn't invade China during the Korea war either when China was much more involved.

The main reason though is because France started the vietnam conflict. It was one of their colonies and commies start the fight. When it went bad for the french they decided to bug out. The US felt it was in the world's best interest to prevent the spread of communism.

Answer 4

The reason that we went to war in Vietnam was because we made a pledge to help any nation that was being over-run by another nation.
North Vietnam sent its army into South Vietnam with the intention of making its neighbor part of the North. South Vietnam asked for our help. Some of the war was carried into Cambodia.
The war was not against North Vietnam because it was a communist nation, but because it was an expansionist nation. The war was not against China, even though it supported the war.

Answer 5

You sure did. China was not actively involved in it. Yugoslavia was Communist, North Korea was communist, Cuba was communist, Albania was communist. Why did thy not fight?