Speech at the Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[1]

(December 23, 1939)

The armed clashes in the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region have been ongoing since March this year, paused during the three months of July, August, and September, and now armed clashes have broken out again, with the participation of the Central Army. Longdong and Guanzhong are of great importance to the Border Region, and we cannot make concessions. At present, the Guomindang is seizing on the fact that we are unwilling to rupture the united front and is preparing to create major frictions, but it cannot be assumed that this will become an open "communist-suppression" war; the Guomindang fears openness. Our policy for dealing with this is to counter frictions, but our methods must be flexible. We have already issued a circular telegram calling on the whole nation to oppose frictions. Now Yan Xishan has not surrendered on the surface, but in his heart he has already surrendered. His attacks on the New Army are a form of surrender; in appearance he has not yet surrendered, but in reality he is already anti-communist, though in appearance he has not yet openly opposed communism. We must exploit this contradiction of Yan’s, opposing Yan under the guise of supporting Yan, and under such contradictions we can achieve victory. The main strength of the New Army is in southeastern Shanxi, while the main force of the Old Army is in southwestern and northwestern Shanxi. Although the New Army has now won two battles, the situation remains very serious, and we must prepare for a protracted struggle. This conflict is a matter of life-and-death struggle between the new and old factions, which must be closely watched, but it cannot be resolved in the short term. Since the Fifth Plenary Session of its Sixth Central Committee, the Guomindang has shifted to primarily military anti-communism, different from the past when political anti-communism was primary. Now the domestic middle bourgeoisie is more active. Ma Zhanshan says surrender is very difficult, and that without arming the masses, China cannot decide the issue. Now, we must advocate perseverance and tenacity. Regarding the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region, we must adopt a policy of resolute struggle, not yielding an inch or a foot. Frictions can also educate us, in effect linking the national struggle with the class struggle.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech during the discussion on countering frictions at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.