To the East China Bureau and the East China Military Region, to the Fujian Provincial Committee of the CPC and the Fujian Military Region, with copy to the Central-South Military Region:

I. In coordination with U.S. military operations in Korea, the enemy on Taiwan and Kinmen has devised a treacherous and reckless plan to commit a portion of its forces—reportedly an entire army—to attack our islands off Fujian and then to land on the Fujian mainland, aiming to seize two or three counties.

II. Our Fujian Military Region is tasked with repelling this enemy offensive using only its existing strength, without relying on any external reinforcements.

III. To this end, it is imperative to:

(a) Rapidly and resolutely fortify the islands that must be held, stockpiling ample supplies of food, ammunition, and water; encourage the defending troops to prepare for a prolonged defense; and absolutely prevent a recurrence of the mistake made on Nanri Island[1]. Should such an error occur again, those responsible shall be duly punished.

(b) Anticipate the various possible scenarios of an enemy assault on the islands and formulate clear reinforcement plans.

(c) Identify several likely landing sites on the mainland and construct a number of temporary, tactical defensive positions. For example, recently we successfully held a coastal position with just one platoon, buying time until a company could reinforce us and annihilate over a hundred enemy troops who had landed. Such tactical, unit-level defenses—platoon-, company-, or battalion-sized—are essential; what is required is not large-scale, permanent coastal fortifications on the mainland. On the islands that must be defended, however, the fortifications must be permanent and extremely robust.

IV. Comrade Zhang Dingcheng[2] is to return immediately to Fujian to assume the posts of Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Government, while Comrade Ye Fei[3] will devote himself exclusively to military affairs. Until Comrade Zhang Dingcheng arrives in Fuzhou, another comrade will temporarily preside over the work of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Government, allowing Comrade Ye Fei to concentrate fully on conducting operations against the enemy. The next two months are of critical importance. It is imperative to arouse the full attention of all units of the armed forces in Fujian, as well as the party and government organs and the general public in key coastal areas, to the struggle against the enemy. No carelessness or complacency must be permitted, lest unnecessary losses be incurred. Please report your deployment arrangements without delay.

Issued by the Central Military Commission on December 28, based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

Notes [1] Nanri Island is located off the coast of Fujian. After the founding of the People’s Republic, Kuomintang forces under Chiang Kai-shek repeatedly raided the island but were always driven back by the People’s Liberation Army. In October 1952, a force of 6,000 KMT troops once again invaded Nanri Island. Although the PLA garrison fought bravely, they were outnumbered. When two battalions were sent as reinforcements, poor command led to heavy casualties, and the island was briefly occupied by the KMT. Party and government institutions on the island, along with the local population, also suffered severe losses.

[2] Zhang Dingcheng (1898–1981), a native of Yongding County in Fujian, was at the time the Fourth Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, concurrently serving as Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government.

[3] Ye Fei was then Commander of the Fujian Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army, First Deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government. Prior to Zhang Dingcheng’s return to Fujian, he was responsible for leading the work of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Government.