Instruction on the Report Concerning Countermeasures Against Intruding U.S. Military Aircraft
(10 May 1955)

Act accordingly.[1]

Mao Zedong
10 May

[1] This is Mao Zedong’s instruction on a report dated 10 May 1955 from Su Yu, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
[2] Su Yu’s report gave an account of the air battle between our aircraft and U.S. military aircraft that had intruded into the airspace over the area south of Andong (Dandong) in our territory, and assessed that there was still a possibility of U.S. aircraft coming to intrude and carry out provocations. The countermeasures proposed by our side were: When it is ascertained that U.S. aircraft are heading north, our aircraft shall immediately enter standby airspace to patrol and monitor their movements. Should U.S. aircraft intrude into our territorial airspace and the airspace over our defence targets, all air defence forces and firepower shall be organized to resolutely strike at them. The air forces in the Andong and Lüda areas are required to coordinate their operations closely to ensure the security of our military airfields and defence targets. Zhou Enlai gave the following instruction on 10 May: “Today U.S. aircraft intruded, and we immediately retaliated. A news release has now been issued to warn the U.S. side. The General Staff’s deployment policy is requested for the Chairman’s instruction.”