Minifigure – a soldier of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from the era of the Sino-Vietnamese War 3 (LEGO Compatible)

This image displays a toy minifigure representing a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sniper from the era of the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979) and the subsequent border conflicts of the 1980s. The Chinese text “南疆卫士” (Nán Jiāng Wèishì) translates to “Southern Border Defender.”

The figure is depicted in a PLA camouflage uniform, suggesting service in a specialized role or during a later phase of the conflict compared to the standard olive-green uniforms. He wears a soft field cap with the red star insignia. Over his tunic, he wears a chest rig, likely a Type 81, designed to carry ammunition magazines.

His specialist role as a sniper is clearly indicated by his weapon: a toy replica of the Type 79 sniper rifle. This was the Chinese version of the Soviet SVD Dragunov, a semi-automatic rifle equipped with a telescopic sight and a bipod, which was the standard designated marksman rifle for the PLA during this period.

An alternative headwear piece is shown in the inset: a simple olive-green combat helmet, also bearing the red star insignia.

Historical Background: This figure represents a specialist soldier who fought in the intense border war between China and Vietnam. Snipers and designated marksmen were particularly important in the static, often trench-like warfare that characterized phases of this conflict in the mountainous and jungle terrain along China’s southern border (“Nan Jiang”). The adoption of camouflage uniforms also became more widespread during the 1980s phase of the border clashes.