Comments on Strengthening the Struggle Against Parachute Spies [1] (March 4, 1953) After Vice Chairman Peng [2] has reviewed this, please forward it to Comrade Luo Ruiqing: The method of establishing anti-parachute-spy outposts should also be implemented within North Korea. You may telegraph the measures described in this document [3] to the Joint Staff Department, and request that the Joint Staff Department and the Headquarters of the Korean People’s Army deliberate together, with the Chinese People’s Volunteers and the Korean People’s Army sharing the responsibility, to set up numerous outposts on various mountain peaks throughout North Korea, dedicated solely to the struggle against parachute spies. Experience should be regularly summarized, and combat techniques and tactics strengthened, so as to annihilate all parachute spies. Mao Zedong, March 4.

Printed from the manuscript. Notes [1] These comments were written on a report dated February 23, 1953, submitted by Luo Ruiqing, Minister of Public Security of the Central People’s Government, and others, to Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai, and Nie Rongzhen, concerning the deployment of the anti-parachute-spy campaign across the country. [2] Refers to Peng Dehuai, Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission and Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. [3] Refers to the methods outlined by Luo Ruiqing and others in their report on the anti-parachute-spy campaign. The report states that, during late December and January–February, public security units in various localities convened anti-parachute-spy conferences, with the primary focus on establishing plainclothes armed outposts to counter parachute spies. Comprehensive arrangements were made for the anti-parachute-spy effort, including the establishment of outposts, the formation of command structures at all levels, the mobilization of the masses, the organization of militia units, and the posting of air-observation sentries. Due to differences in local conditions and unit missions, the specifics of the anti-parachute-spy deployments varied from place to place. At present, all localities should promptly resolve the issue of equipment for outpost units, strive to establish the outposts as soon as possible, enhance the professional capabilities of these units, conduct thorough inspections of the implementation of anti-parachute-spy work, and launch a mass-based campaign against parachute spies, in order to completely eliminate those who have been dropped by parachute and to frustrate the enemy’s schemes.