Speech at a Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[1]

(February 8, 1938)

Japanese imperialism has decided to change its strategic policy from a quick decision through swift warfare to a protracted offensive, and its current overall objective is to attack Wuhan. At present, the path for Japan to demand China’s compromise still exists. If Britain comes forward to advocate peace, the Guomindang will face the danger of peace and compromise. We must anticipate the new changes that will occur in China after the fall of places such as Wuhan and Guangzhou. We must be prepared to rely on our own efforts and carry on even when international assistance is unavailable, and we must encourage the Guomindang to persist in the War of Resistance even under extremely difficult circumstances. In the area around Wuling Mountain on the border between Rehe and Hebei provinces, dispatch Yang Chengwu[2] to develop a new guerrilla zone. This is the enemy’s far rear area. To the east, it can coordinate with the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army; to the south, it can coordinate with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region; to the north, it is close to Mongolia; and to the west, it connects with Suiyuan. When changes occur in the world, this region can be the first to receive international assistance.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech on current military issues at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

[2] Yang Chengwu, then serving as Commander of the First Military Sub-district and concurrently Commander of the First Detachment of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region of the Eighth Route Army.