The Current International Situation
and Its Influence on the Current
Political Situation in China
(December 16, 1943)
Comrade [Deng] Xiaoping:1
A. We received your telegram of December 3.2 It is completely right to work hard
on production, pay attention to saving, and prepare for more difficult situations
to come. Please stick to this general policy. As for what to do in Shandong and
Central China, we will inform you after Zhu Rui and Chen Yi3 arrive in Yan’an
and acquaint us with the situation there.
B. Despite two years of the Pacific War and over six years of the Sino-Japanese
War, the strength of Japan is still considerable. Moreover, due to the dangers in
the Pacific Ocean, it will be no mean feat for Great Britain and the United States
to counterattack. However, as the institutions of the Guomindang are corrupt and
its secret agents rampant, its power is decreasing rather than increasing during
the long period of strategic stalemate. The Cairo Conference4 dealt a blow to the
Japanese attempt to induce capitulation (but it has not yet been abandoned),
blocking the way for Chiang Kaishek to seek a compromise. The promise made to
return Penghu, Taiwan, and Manchuria to China might result in the disaster of a
frontal attack by the Japanese bandits. The Tehran Conference5 ensures the
opening of a second front on the European continent, which contradicts Chiang’s
hope of an impending counteroffensive in the Pacific Ocean. Thus, Chiang did
not make a great fanfare with jubilation after he flew back to Chongqing from
Cairo, as he did last time after the abolition of the treaties.6 The current political situation is extremely advantageous for resistance against Japan and the
revolution. Nonetheless, difficulties are still on the increase (e.g., the results of the
Cairo Conference may decrease the contradictions and increase the coordination
and unity of the different factions of Japanese financial lords and warlords, thus
increasing their resolve to persist in a protracted war). The regions in North
China behind enemy lines in particular should be fully prepared to hold out for
another three or five years and should guard against the tendency to take the
enemy lightly and to slacken on long-term preparations after the Tehran
Conference, the Cairo Conference, and the continued victories of the Soviet
Union. Please pay attention to the real situations in all the regions and make
corrections accordingly at all times.
C. There has been no report reflecting rectification and production in Taiyue
and Zhongtiao. Take care to investigate, supervise and promote them.
Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai7

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Notes

Notes
Our source for this document is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 3, pp. 78–80, where it is reproduced from the
transcript preserved in the Central Archives.
1. Regarding Deng Xiaoping, see above, note to the text of February 10, 1943.
2. The telegram explains the reasons for the current economic difficulties in the regions of northern China
and suggests that the Central Committee issue a directive to the Central China Bureau and the Shandong
Subbureau, asking them to pay attention to saving and to preparing for unexpected difficulties.
3. Regarding Zhu Rui see above, note to the text of February 10, 1943.
4. The Cairo Conference, held from November 22 to November 26, 1943, was attended by the leaders of
China, the United States, and Britain. The conference negotiated a further alliance in fighting against Japan
and jointly issued the Cairo Declaration, which stipulated that Japan had to surrender unconditionally and
return to China all occupied territories.
5. The Tehran Conference, held from November 28 to December 1, 1943, was attended by the leaders of
the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain. The conference mainly addressed the alliance in fighting
Nazi Germany and signed the Tehran General Agreement and the Tehran Declaration. The General

Agreement stipulated that the United States, Britain, and other allies should open a second front on the
European continent by invading France.
6. Referring to the two treaties between China and Britain and the treaty between China and the United
States, signed on January 11, 1943, relinquishing all extraterritorial rights in China.
7. Regarding Peng Dehuai, see above, note to the text of January 25, 1943.