(June 1, 1951)
Comrade Dehuai: [1]

There is another issue, namely the question of our army’s anti-tank weapons and anti-tank units. I have heard that recently the enemy’s tanks have increased. Our army must strengthen its anti-tank weapons, sufficient to overcome the enemy’s large numbers of tanks, in order to halt the enemy tanks’ rampancy and annihilate the enemy’s infantry in large numbers. What is your opinion on this matter? Are the anti-tank weapons currently equipped by our army adequate? Which weapons are the most useful? Should each regiment be equipped with a specialized anti-tank company? Please inform me.

Mao Zedong
June 1

[1] Dehuai, i.e., Peng Dehuai, then serving as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.