冷戰期間,東南亞是中共革命輸出的主要地區。「文革」以前鄧小平負責中共的黨對黨外交,在中共對東南亞共黨外交上角色甚為活躍,推行毛澤東的外交戰略與部署,將相關外交納入中共對蘇外交之整體戰略框架。鄧小平主要從事三方面的活動:一、因應中共與蘇共意識型態論戰,出面同東南亞共黨交換意見,希望相關政黨支持中共對蘇的立場和觀點。二、促使北越在外交上偏向中共,慎防北越因蘇聯的拉攏而與中共漸行漸遠,並處理雙方互動中出現的摩擦問題。三、為促進中共對世界革命情勢判斷的兌現,與東南亞共黨接洽、甚而鼓吹各地的革命活動。中共對東南亞推行激進外交路線造成的不良後果,鄧小平確有不可推卸的責任。
During the Cold War, China exported revolution to the Southeast Asia. Deng Xiaoping took charge China's party to party diplomacy before the Cultural Revolution, Deng played an important role in the China vs. Southeast Asia Communist Parties Relations. Deng's concerned roles and activities include: to persuade these Communist Parties to support China's viewpoints toward China vs. Soviet Union ideological debate, to push North Vietnam to stand with China, to encourage these Communist Parties to launch revolt and war.