Notes by Yang on Su Yu’s [!] report concerning the detection of U.S. warships in the waters south of the Zhoushan Archipelago
(June 2, 1954)
The handling was correct: do not open fire on the U.S. forces first; adopt a defensive posture and strive to avoid conflict.
Mao Zedong
June 2
[!] Su Yu was then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
[2]
Refers to Su Yu’s report dated June 1, 1954, addressed to Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De, with a copy sent to Mao Zedong, regarding the situation involving the discovery of U.S. warships in the waters south of the Zhoushan Archipelago. The report stated that this morning, a telephone call from the East China Military Region reported the sighting of eight enemy cruisers and destroyers, along with aircraft circling overhead, in the sea area southeast of Zhujiajian Island and north of Shangxia Dacheng, within the southern part of the Zhoushan Archipelago. This was clearly an act of provocation by U.S. imperialism against our armed forces.  Immediate instructions were given to the East China Military Region to inform all PLA ground, naval, and air units operating in that area to maintain close surveillance over the opposing forces and to report any developments without delay. Should the enemy refrain from shelling or bombing our positions, our forces were to abstain from firing in order to prevent an escalation of hostilities. However, if the Kuomintang troops stationed on Dacheng Island took advantage of the situation to attack our garrison there, they were to be met with resolute counterattacks.