Comments by the Armored Forces Command on the Report Concerning Streamlining and Economy (December 5, 1951) To all departments of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, to the Party Groups of the Central People’s Government, to all Central Bureaus with their subordinate sub-bureaus, to the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, to all Military Regions with their subordinate regional and local military commands, and to the Military Academy and the Party Committee of the Chinese People’s Volunteers:

(1) This is the first report on streamlining and economy that we have received from the military sector. It is hereby forwarded for your reference.

(2) The campaign against corruption should be conducted separately from the efforts to streamline and economize and to combat waste. A comprehensive investigation and analysis must be carried out, accompanied by calls for self-confession and denunciation, so as to fully expose all corrupt individuals and deal with them appropriately on a case-by-case basis. The present report of the Armored Forces Command focuses primarily on streamlining, economy, and the fight against waste; although it represents only a partial beginning, it is already highly significant and encouraging.

(3) It is hoped that the entire armed forces will immediately launch this struggle, mobilizing all officers and men to wage campaigns (a) against corruption and (b) for streamlining, economy, and the elimination of waste—keeping these two aspects distinct yet interrelated.

(4) All military units are required to submit reports to the CMC.

Mao Zedong December 5, 1951 Printed from the manuscript.