Speech at a Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
(March 23, 1938)
[1]
We must have a correct assessment of Japan. Japan is a powerful and shrewd imperialist power; the Japanese nation is fierce and its weapons are advanced. The Japanese offensive will come to a halt after the occupation of Xi’an, Wuhan, and Guangzhou. They will then build roads and fortresses in North China, preventing our guerrilla forces from operating in large units. The anti-Japanese base areas may shrink, but they can hold out. To persevere in the war of resistance, there must be extensive democracy; resistance to Japan and democracy are inseparable. In the future, anti-Japanese base areas must be established in the rear of the Japanese-occupied areas. The disposition of the Eighth Route Army’s main forces after their movement must be prepared now; guerrilla units should be formed in various regions.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong's remarks on the work in North China at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.