On the Central Committee’s Explanation Regarding
the Establishment of a Base Area in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia[1]

(August 1937)

(1) The Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia revolutionary base area is the revolutionary base area left over after the decade of civil war; it is the support base for our expedition to resist Japan, and the Central Committee must take root here. (2) The Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia revolutionary base area has its advantages. In terms of geographical conditions, it has inconvenient transport and is cut off by the Yellow River, making it a weak link in the enemy’s offensive. It is not far from the North China front, making command relatively convenient. (3) Due to the influence of the Great Revolution, the local masses have relatively high consciousness, and we have already had two years of work as a foundation. The main force’s departure for the front poses a great threat to and pins down the enemy. If we leave behind one unit of troops, it is entirely possible for the Central Committee to gain a firm foothold in the Northwest.

[1] Before the Luochuan Conference, in response to doubts raised by some comrades who argued that northern Shaanxi, with its barren land and impoverished people, was unsuitable as a great base area for resisting Japan, who worried that the base area could not be held after the main force left, and who advocated that the Central Committee should move with the main force, Mao Zedong made this explanation.