Comment on the Tiger-Beating Budget Report
(January 30, 1952)

To all major military regions, the Chinese People's Volunteers, and all central bureaus:

The spirit of the tiger-beating budget[1] stipulated by the East China Military Region on January 29 is very good, and it is hereby forwarded to you for reference. A major military region cannot have only a little over two hundred big tigers, but it is appropriate to set such a number for the first time; thereafter, the tiger-beating tasks can be gradually increased as understanding deepens. At the central level, with 120,000 people, 10,000 corrupt elements have been uncovered (over 80 percent are small corrupt elements below one million yuan, who generally shall be dealt with leniently), and 400 big tigers have been uncovered or are to be uncovered. This is a target of struggle achieved only after repeated strict supervision and continuous increases in tasks.

Mao Zedong
January 30

[1] The report of the East China Military Region Committee of the Communist Party of China, dated January 29, 1952, to party committees and leading cadres at all levels and submitted to Mao Zedong and the East China Bureau, stipulated the tiger-beating budget for various units in East China. It estimated that during the tiger-beating stage, the East China units would in total uncover 266 big tigers, 865 small tigers, and 86,850 medium and small corrupt elements.