Comments by the Central Military Commission on the South-Central Military Region’s Report Concerning Coastal Defense Inspections and Proposals for Future Development (January 14, 1953)

East China Military Region: This document [1] is of reference value to you. You are requested to study it carefully and follow its example, particularly with regard to the establishment of inspection teams and comfort delegations, which are of great importance.

Central Military Commission January 14 Based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

Notes [1] Refers to the report dated January 12, 1953, submitted by the CPC Committee of the South-Central Military Region to Mao Zedong, the Central Military Commission, and Ye Jianying, concerning coastal defense inspections and proposals for future development. The report states that after receiving Chairman Mao’s “Instructions on Correcting the Relaxation of Military Education and the Erosion of Discipline” in October of last year (see Volume III, page 6° of this book), the South-Central Military Region, in addition to conducting a general roll call of all units, specially organized three coastal defense inspection teams. In early November, these teams were dispatched to eastern, central, and western Guangdong provinces, where they worked in coordination with coastal troops, various military regions, and naval and public security organs to carry out a comprehensive inspection of the garrison situation on coastal islands. Through this inspection, a clearer understanding of the state of coastal defense work was achieved, many urgent problems were identified, and certain foundational insights were gained regarding how to strengthen coastal defenses. Addressing the existing problems in coastal defense work, the report put forward nine measures aimed at raising the morale and combat effectiveness of island garrison forces and reinforcing island defenses and coastal defense construction, including the organization of comfort delegations for island garrison units, among other initiatives.