Nie:
Postpone the liberation of Jinmen[!]
(May 10, 1951)
I agree with your opinion. Inquire
Mao Zedong
May 10
[1] This is Mao Zedong’s comment on the report dated May 10, 1951, by Nie Rongzhen, Acting Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government.
[2] Nie Rongzhen’s report stated: “Before the Korean War is concluded, it is advisable to postpone the battle to seize Jinmen. It is estimated that capturing Jinmen will require fierce fighting, and all material preparations must be sufficient. However, before the Korean War is concluded, supplying both fronts simultaneously may overstretch our capacity. Therefore, it is better not to concentrate and build additional ships for the time being, so as to avoid causing great waste.”
On May 12, the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government, acting on Mao Zedong’s instruction, cabled the East China Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army: Before a decisive victory is won in the Korean War, the campaign to attack and capture Jinmen shall be postponed for the time being. To this end, except that the existing 500 motorized junks should still be dispersed for training and maintenance, the ships currently lacking shall not be built for the time being.