Recently, Japanese imperialism has massively reinforced its troops in Hebei and Chahar with the aim of directly occupying North China; it has organized nationwide smuggling networks to undermine China’s tariff system and national economy; and it has instigated the Fujian autonomy movement to invade South China. All these actions unequivocally demonstrate that Japan’s premeditated plan to destroy all of China is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Yet Chiang Kai-shek’s Nanjing government has not only shown absolutely no resistance but has, on every front, served as a lackey for Japanese imperialism, suppressing all anti-Japanese and national salvation movements of the Chinese people, obstructing the Eastern Expedition of the Chinese People’s Red Army Anti-Japanese Vanguard Corps, signing the “Sino-Japanese Anti-Communist Agreement” to invite the wolf into the house, and eliminating political opponents in a bid to establish personal dictatorship. As a result, Japanese aggressors and shameless traitors now run rampant across the land, leaving every conscientious, patriotic soldier and fellow countryman filled with righteous indignation and vowing to fight to the bitter end for the survival of the Chinese nation.

We call upon the Nanjing government to immediately dispatch its forces to join in the unified resistance against Japan. Such a just cause, once proclaimed, would surely galvanize the entire nation. On behalf of the anti-Japanese people and the Anti-Japanese Red Army throughout the Soviet regions, we express our respect and support for the patriotic soldiers and compatriots of Guangdong and Guangxi, and we are the first to offer to forge an anti-Japanese alliance with the authorities of those two provinces and to struggle together. Moreover, we urge all patriotic Chinese military personnel to volunteer their services, take up arms, and respond to the resolute efforts of our fellow countrymen across China to expand the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement, thereby coordinating with the uprising in Guangdong and Guangxi. This military initiative must be broadened into a sacred national revolutionary war of armed resistance by the whole people. At the same time, we demand that the Nanjing government immediately repent, accede to the demands of Guangdong and Guangxi, and mobilize the entire Chinese army and navy to march north and fight the Japanese invaders. The Chinese People’s Red Army stands ready to concentrate its forces first in Hebei, assume the role of the Anti-Japanese Vanguard Corps, and engage the Japanese imperialists in direct combat.

However, since the outbreak of hostilities in Guangdong and Guangxi, Chiang Kai-shek’s Nanjing government has not only failed to demonstrate any genuine intention to meet those demands but has repeatedly postponed action, publicly denouncing the authorities of Guangdong and Guangxi as fomenting civil war and undermining unity, while secretly massing large armies to block the advance of Guangdong and Guangxi’s forces toward the north and to incite strife and ignite civil war so as to disrupt the anti-Japanese front. The Chinese people will never forgive such heinous conduct. All who refuse to become slaves of a conquered nation should demand that Chiang Kai-shek immediately implement the national slogan of ending civil war and uniting in the resistance against Japan. Simultaneously, we call upon the many conscientious and patriotic officers and soldiers within Chiang’s army—who possess both moral integrity and fervent patriotism—to break free from Chiang’s pro-Japanese policy, independently lead their units to join forces with Guangdong and Guangxi and with the Red Army, and march north to fight the Japanese aggressors. Time is of the essence! All patriotic soldiers and compatriots throughout China must unite closely and concentrate their strength to launch a united offensive against Japanese imperialism! Never before has the Chinese people had a more urgent need than now for a solid anti-Japanese united front. We firmly oppose any gatherings convened by Chiang—whether they be the Nationalist Party’s surrenderist and treasonous plenary sessions or the puppet National Assembly—and instead advocate for the immediate convening of a National Anti-Japanese Congress. This congress should bring together all political, social, professional organizations, and armed units throughout the country that are committed to resisting Japan and combating traitors, enabling them to elect their own representatives to participate and swiftly implement the following platform:

1. Declare a severance of diplomatic relations with Japan and a formal state of war; launch a campaign to overthrow Manchukuo and reclaim the lost territories of North China and Northeast China. 2. Abolish all unequal treaties between China and Japan and all loans secured through national betrayal. 3. Punish to the fullest extent the traitorous collaborators who have surrendered Chinese territory, bringing calamity upon the nation and its people. 4. Mobilize the entire Chinese army, navy, and air force for direct combat against Japan. 5. Confiscate all property belonging to Japanese imperialists and to traitorous collaborators to finance the anti-Japanese effort. 6. Guarantee full freedom of speech, publication, assembly, and association for the cause of national salvation; release all political prisoners. 7. Establish a National Defense Government and an Anti-Japanese Allied Army. 8. Forge alliances with all nations and peoples around the world on the basis of equality, and rally all oppressed ethnic groups and working masses within Japan itself.

This is the program for national salvation and anti-Japanese resistance demanded by the Chinese people, and it should also serve as the guiding platform for Guangdong and Guangxi’s expedition to resist Japan. It is our sincere hope that the patriotic leaders of Guangdong and Guangxi will boldly initiate and vigorously support the patriotic movement of the people, extensively arm and organize the anti-Japanese ranks, unite the entire nation, and strive unswervingly to achieve this program in its entirety. We are convinced that only when the armed forces and the people are fully integrated—as when the weapons of resistance become the weapons of the people themselves—can the great undertaking initiated by Guangdong and Guangxi to liberate the Chinese nation ultimately triumph.

Long live Guangdong and Guangxi’s march north to resist Japan! All patriotic Chinese soldiers, unite with Guangdong and Guangxi to fight the Japanese together in a unified front! Down with Chiang Kai-shek’s incitement of civil war to sabotage the anti-Japanese struggle!  Convene a National Congress for National Salvation Against Japan—Down with Japanese Imperialism!

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China Zhu De, Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Commission of the Chinese People’s Red Army June 10, 1936