Before we were to leave, Mao met with Brother Truong Chinh and myself. Mao sat down to chat with us, and in the end he announced:
"Comrades, I would like you to know this. I will be president of 500 million land-hungry peasants, and I will bring an army to strike downwards into Southeast Asia." Also seated there, Deng Xiaoping added: "It is mainly because the poor peasants are in such dire straits!"
Once we were outside,
I told Brother Truong Chinh: "There you have it, the plot to take our country and Southeast Asia. It is clear now." They dared to announce it in such a way. They thought we would not understand. It is true that not a minute goes by that they do not think of fighting Vietnam!
I will say more to you comrades so that you may see more of the military importance of this matter. Mao asked me:
In Laos, how many square kilometers [of land] are there?
I answered:
About 200,000 [sq. km.].
What is its population? [Mao asked]:
[I answered]: Around 3 million!
[Mao responded:] That's not very much! I'll bring my people there, indeed!
[Mao asked:] How many square kilometers [of land] are there in Thailand?.
[I responded]: About 500,000 [sq. km.].
And how many people? [Mao asked].
About 40 million! [I answered].
My God! [Mao said], Szechwan province of China has 500,000 sq. km., but has 90 million people.
I'll take some more of my people there, too [to Thailand]!
As for Vietnam, they did not dare to speak about moving in people this way. However, he [Mao] told me: "Comrade, isn't it true that your people have fought and defeated the Yuan army?" I said: "Correct." "Isn't it also true, comrade, that you defeated the Qing army?" I said: "Correct." He said: "And the Ming army as well?" I said: "Yes, and you too. I have beaten you as well. Did you know that?" I spoke with Mao Zedong in that way. He said: "Yes, yes!" He wanted to take Laos, all of Thailand – as well as wanting to take all of Southeast Asia. Bringing people to live there. It was complicated [to that point].
In the past [referring to possible problems stemming from the Chinese threat during these times], we had made intense preparations; it is not that we were unprepared. If we had not made preparations, the recent situation would have been very dangerous. It was not a simple matter. Ten years ago, I summoned together our brothers in the military to meet with me. I told them that the Soviet Union and the US were at odds with each other. As for China, they had joined hands with the US imperialists. In this tense situation, you must study this problem immediately. I was afraid that the military did not understand me, so I told them that there was no other way to understand the matter. But they found it very difficult to understand. It was not easy at all. But I could not speak in any other way. And I did not allow others to grab me.
Source:
http://www.defence.pk/forums/china-far-east/227105-vietnam-laos-cambodia.html#ixzz2bJ9unDLK