(August 21, 1954)
After Liu, Zhou, Chen, and Deng had reviewed it, it was forwarded to Comrades Peng Dehuai and Huang Kecheng:
Please note that an attack on Upper and Lower Dachen Islands may be launched only when it has been reliably confirmed that no U.S. warships or aircraft are present; otherwise, no attack should be made.
Mao Zedong
August 21st
[l]
This directive was written on a report dated August 20, 1954, from the PLA Air Defense Command under the Central Military Commission to the General Staff Headquarters, concerning U.S. Air Force activities in the Dachen Islands area and the takeoff status of our own aircraft.
[2]
Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Chen refers to Chen Yun, who at that time served as a Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council.
Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at that time held the posts of Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council.
[3]
Peng Dehuai was then Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission. Huang Kecheng was then Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.