Order to All Battlefield Commanders[1]

(July 1, 1946)

Members of the Communist Party, All Battlefield Commanders:

In any location, if the Kuomintang army does not attack our army, our army shall not proactively attack the Kuomintang army. However, if attacked, our army shall resolutely adopt self-defensive measures to protect the lives and property of the people and uphold the laws and decrees of the democratic government.

Mao Zedong

Zhu De

July 1

[1] On July 1, Chiang Kai-shek publicly issued an order to battlefield commanders in various regions through a radio broadcast, claiming: "If the Communist army does not attack our army, then our army will also not attack the Communist army." This order, issued by Mao Zedong in response to Chiang Kai-shek's order, was publicly released by Zhu De to all battlefield commanders.