Statement by the Spokesman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Tenth Plenary Session of the Kuomintang Central Executive Committee

(November 29, 1942)

We deeply share the sentiment of the plenary session in its intention to persist in the War of Resistance and strengthen unity. As the declaration states: "Before the final victory is achieved, we must go through the most arduous and fiercest decisive battles, thereby annihilating the enemy and forever eradicating the root of calamity. We must adhere to the essential principle of self-reliance and make plans for the most severe hardships," and "Today, we must especially exert all loyalty and courage, press forward with urgency, and concentrate the full strength of 450 million people on the fighting."

"Externally, we must engage in mutual assistance and cooperation to realize the universal principle of human equality; internally, we must unite together and demonstrate a shared resolve of absolute sincerity and unity," and "Only with the sincere unity of the entire nation can we shoulder this unprecedentedly arduous mission." All these are quite correct, and they sufficiently prove that on the most important policies, both external and internal, the views of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party are fundamentally identical. This expression by the Tenth Plenary Session is truly a cause for rejoicing. Since the War of Resistance began, the Communist Party, the Eighth Route Army, and the New Fourth Army have consistently stood at the forefront of the motherland’s war. Though isolated deep behind enemy lines, extremely short of pay, ammunition, and equipment, suffering from hunger and cold, and beset with countless difficulties, they have always obeyed the orders of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, held their positions, and never retreated a single step. Generalissimo Chiang once said: "Regardless of north or south, regardless of age, every person bears the responsibility of defending the land and resisting the enemy." Guided by this instruction, Communist Party members and the people behind enemy lines formed guerrilla units, coordinated with the main forces, and resisted the enemy troops. Thus they have been able to hold out for five and a half years, standing firm to this day like a Great Wall, tying down fifteen enemy divisions, half of the Japanese forces in China. That they have been able to do this is not without reason. As for the measures implemented in the various anti-Japanese base areas, they are all based on Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People, Generalissimo Chiang’s Program of Resistance, and the various basic laws and decrees of the National Government, while taking into account local conditions and formulating many specific methods. As a result, the people are convinced and satisfied, assisting in the War of Resistance and achieving the goal of long-term sustained support. On September 22, 1937, our Party issued a declaration on jointly meeting the national crisis, which set forth the following four points: "1. Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People are essential for China today; our Party is willing to strive for their thorough realization. 2. Abolish all policies of insurrection aimed at overthrowing the Kuomintang regime and the movement of sovietization, and cease the policy of confiscating landlords’ land by force. 3. Abolish the present Soviet government and implement a government based on popular rights, so as to unify the national political authority. 4. Abolish the designation and unit numbers of the Red Army, reorganize it into the National Revolutionary Army, place it under the command of the Military Commission of the National Government, and await orders to move and assume the duty of resisting Japan at the front." In the five years since, we have not dared to deviate in the slightest from these commitments. Moreover, we have not only earnestly adhered to them during the War of Resistance but are also prepared to continue adhering to them after the war is concluded. All this is done to achieve sincere unity with the Chinese Kuomintang and all other parties and strata across the nation, and to fulfill the epochal mission of resisting Japan and building the nation. The various items listed in the report of the Special Research Committee and the four points set forth in the above-mentioned declaration of the Chinese Communist Party do not differ in their basic spirit. As for the attitude toward the Communist Party, the report of the Special Research Committee, after listing various demands, declares: "The government shall treat all with equal favor, not only refraining from discrimination but also guaranteeing their due rights and freedoms as citizens." This expression is precisely what we have earnestly sought for many years. Now that we have received this clear declaration, our rejoicing is especially profound. In sum, the stand of the Chinese Communists is based entirely on the Anti-Japanese National United Front. Whatever accords with the interests of unity and resistance is carried out with the utmost sincerity; this remains unswerving. We deeply hope that members of the Chinese Kuomintang will understand this sincerity of ours for the nation and the people, and that further cooperation will be achieved. Then, though the enemy invaders are strong, they will ultimately be driven out by us, and a strong, independent Republic of China can soon be successfully established.