We Must Strive to Win Over the Centrist Faction
(May 29, 1940)
The current situation harbors both the potential for stagnation and improvement; naturally, we must also remain vigilant against possible reversals or sudden crises. As Commander-in-Chief Zhu rightly pointed out, we still need to work hard to win over the centrist forces and to seek to divide and win over even the most obstinate elements—even after clashing with them. We should not treat the obstinate faction as traitors, nor the centrists as obstinate. At present, the influence of the obstinate forces is waning, whereas that of the centrists is growing. Moreover, the majority of Nationalist officers belong to the centrist camp. To win over the centrists, we must employ united front tactics, such as implementing a “three-thirds” system of governance, while at the same time intensifying theoretical explanations.