Experts have highlighted how China analysed the mistakes of the Argentine forces during the conflict to optimise Beijing’s strategy in disputes such as the South China Sea. The US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) published a study titled “China’s Lessons From Other People’s Wars”, in which Beijing’s lessons from Britain’s war were outlined. According to SSI’s 2011 report, Chinese military chiefs concluded that Argentina failed to compile an “accurate pre-conflict strategic assessment”.
The Chinese also believed that Argentina did not capitalise on a major weakness of the British forces – its long sea and air supply line.
Nor did Buenos Aires sufficiently reinforce their forces on the ground of the archipelago leaving their military personnel vulnerable to British assault.
The paper adds that the Falklands’ airfields were not able to accommodate fighter jets and refueling capabilities were limited.
This enabled British forces to form a “protective bubble” formed by aircraft carriers, contributing to the eventual defeat of the Argentines.
According to the report, having observed Argentina’s shortcomings, China’s military has equipped itself with weapons that can fire at significant range, capable of compromising its enemies’ airfields and bases.
Beijing has also acknowledged the importance of hitting opponents’ supply, and has reportedly placed emphasis on developing submarines to attack ships and carriers.
The 1982 war saw Argentina make an audacious land grab, sending forces to the Islands that Buenos Aires deemed to be its territory.
However, British troops successfully reclaimed the archipelago after two and a half months of conflict.
Island combat could become extremely important to China in the future as its increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea increases hostility in the region.
READ MORE:Falklands shock: How Argentina plotted attack on Gibraltar during war
In 1988, 64 Vietnamese soldiers were killed in a conflict with China over the Johnson South Reef in the South China Sea.
In 2014, there was a standoff between Chinese and Vietnamese military, as a Chinese oil rig entered disputed waters where Vietnam had also contested for ownership.
Just last month, a Chinese oil vessel departed Vietnam’s economic exclusion zone after a three-month standoff.
However, this prompted the US to send a patrol ship to Vietnam last week as Washington continues to try and thwart China’s attempts to dominate its Asian neighbours.