Agree with Liu Yalou and Others’ Report on the Repair of Airfields in Various Localities

(December 5, 1949)

To the East China Bureau and the East China Military Region, the North China Bureau and the North China Military Region, the Central China Bureau and the Central China Military Region, the Northwest Bureau and the Northwest Military Region, the Northeast Bureau and the Northeast Military Region, with copies to Premier Zhou of the Government Administration Council, Comrades Chen and Bo[1] of the Central Financial and Economic Commission, and Comrades Liu, Chang, Wang, and Wang[2] of the Air Force Command:

According to a telegram dated November 28 from Comrade Liu Yalou, Commander of the Air Force, and others: (1) The Air Force Command has just been established and is temporarily unable to attend to the overall budget for planning airfield construction nationwide. However, we believe that at present, all military regions and governments at all levels across the country should primarily assign designated personnel to protect and manage existing airfields and their existing facilities in each locality, ensuring they are not further damaged or stolen. At the same time, repair work may be carried out within the limits of funds and manpower that each locality can bear (a portion of the troops may be mobilized to participate). As for major repair work on airfields in various localities, given the current economic difficulties of the state, except for East China, it may be postponed for the time being. When the Air Force Command has the capacity to plan this matter as a whole, a plan will be proposed and, upon approval by the Military Commission, will then be carried out. Otherwise, a state of anarchy will inevitably result. (2) The situation in the East China area is different, as combat missions need to be prepared for there. However, this does not mean that all airfields in the East China area must be repaired immediately (for example, those in northern Jiangsu may be postponed). Rather, priority should be given to repairing airfields related to the combat missions about to be executed. The extent of construction may also be limited to what is necessary for carrying out the combat missions, so as to avoid excessive expenditure. According to a report from the Aviation Division of the East China Military Region Command, they have already drawn up such a repair plan and have submitted it to the Front Committee of the Third Field Army for instructions. Under the current circumstances where the Air Force Command lacks the capacity to review such budgets, it is proposed that the Air Force Command review whether a particular airfield should begin repairs immediately, while the repair funds be reviewed by a logistics organ designated by the Front Committee of the Third Field Army, and then reported to the Military Commission for approval. (3) If the above handling method is deemed appropriate, it is requested that the Military Commission notify all military regions and us to act accordingly, and inform the Central Financial and Economic Commission, etc. We agree with this approach. It is requested that the East China Military Region and all military regions proceed accordingly, and that the Central Financial and Economic Commission disburse the indispensable portion of funds accordingly while rejecting all expenditures that can be reduced or saved.

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the Central Military Commission
December 5, 1949

[1] Chen and Bo refer to Chen Yun and Bo Yibo, who were then respectively Director and Deputy Director of the Financial and Economic Commission of the Government Administration Council.
[2] Liu, Chang, Wang, and Wang refer to Liu Yalou, Chang Qiankun, Wang Bi, and Wang Bingzhang, who were then respectively Commander, Deputy Commander, Deputy Political Commissar, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.