Speech at the Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee[1]

(June 29, 1935)

The Japanese troops are attacking Beiping, clearly intending to seize North China. At present, the conflicts among the imperialist countries manifest themselves in China as contradictions among the warlords. Japanese imperialism seeks to bring Chiang Kai-shek completely under its control. The Party should make its position known on the current situation and should issue documents. We must propagate within the troops opposition to Japanese imperialism and opposition to the abandonment of North China; this is the most effective way to mobilize the masses.

[1] On June 29, 1935, the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee was convened at Lianghekou. This is part of Mao Zedong’s remarks made after listening to Bogu (Qin Bangxian)’s report on the North China Incident and the Japanese troops’ attack on Beiping.

From June to August 1935, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a series of meetings at Lianghekou, Shawo, and Mao’ergai to discuss the issue of where the Red Army should establish its foothold. The photograph shows the site of the Lianghekou Meeting.