Commentary on the Troop Rotation Plan [l]
(September 2, 1952)
Agree with this report and the rotation plan: within four months, from March to June next year, seven corps are to be rotated.
[1]
This is Mao Zedong’s commentary on a report submitted by Nie Rongzhen, Acting Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People’s Government, dated August 30, 1952.
[2]
Refers to the situation of the entire army’s reorganization and the plan for rotating troops fighting in Korea, as reported by Nie Rongzhen. The report stated: With regard to the reorganization of the entire army, the process has been carried out according to the plan approved on January 5, 1952. To date, the total strength of the armed forces stands at 4.3 million, of which another 200,000 personnel are still to be further streamlined and reorganized in the second phase. Prior to the reorganization, there were 53 armies and 185 divisions among the regular units nationwide; after the reorganization, only 36 army headquarters and 115 divisions remain. Judging from the current state of the reorganization, following the principle of retaining the strong and eliminating the weak, most units eligible for reorganization have already been reorganized. As for the troop rotation plan for forces operating in Korea, the Chairman’s instruction to rotate troops for combat was primarily intended to enable domestic units to gain combat experience against U.S. imperialist forces without delay, thereby enhancing their modern warfare capabilities. At the same time, it would allow those units that had been deployed abroad for an extended period to receive the necessary rest and recuperation. In accordance with the Chairman’s directive to carry out rotations at the corps level, we propose the following rotation plan: the units selected for rotation into Korea should be relatively stronger formations, with efforts made to implement the rotation swiftly. The sequence will be determined by the length of time each unit has been serving in Korea, and the rotations will proceed in stages, provided that they do not impair front-line operations or domestic defense. The first phase will involve the rotation of four corps, and the second phase seven corps. Thus, with the exception of the four corps that entered Korea more recently and will not be rotated for the time being, all other units currently stationed in Korea will be withdrawn to China for rest and rehabilitation, and can then be gradually reequipped as imported equipment arrives, before being redeployed to assume defensive duties in Northeast, East China, Central-South, Northwest, Southwest, and North China regions. Following the troop rotation, 15 armies and 45 divisions will be retained in Korea.

Whether the schedule seems too tight and needs to be extended can be decided closer to that time.
Mao Zedong
September 2nd