Comments on the Reproduction in Xinhua News Agency of Two Dispatches from the Taiwan Avenue News Agency (February 28, 1953)  To Xinhua News Agency: The two dispatches from the Taiwan Avenue News Agency[1] may be reproduced in Reference News. These are statements made by the Chiang bandits to the Americans, indicating their inability to launch an offensive against the Chinese mainland or Hainan Island. They are of the same nature as the remarks which the Chiang bandits delivered to an American news agency half a month ago.

Mao Zedong February 28 Based on the manuscript for publication.

Notes [ ] refer to the two dispatches from the Taiwan Avenue News Agency published in No. 44 of Xinhua News Agency’s “Internal Reference,” compiled and printed on February 26, 1953. One dispatch stated: “The Central China and East China Command Posts of the Communist Chinese Army have been merged into a so-called Coastal Theater, under the command of General Lin Biao, commander of the Fourth Field Army. This theater will be defended by five corps of the Fourth Field Army and two corps of the Third Field Army (the Eighth and Tenth Corps).” The other dispatch reported: “The defensive forces on Communist-occupied Hainan Island have been greatly strengthened. Three months ago, the garrison there was already doubled.” It continued: “In addition to the ground troops, there are approximately fifty aircraft of various types stationed at two airfields on the island, and a permanent contingent of thirty naval vessels, both small and large.”