(July 27, 1958)
Comrades Dehuai and Kecheng:

I couldn’t fall asleep and have been pondering the matter. It seems more advisable to suspend firing at Kinmen for a few days.
For now, let’s hold off and observe the situation. If the other side rotates its troops, we won’t fire; if they don’t rotate, we still won’t fire. We should wait until they launch an unreasonable attack before launching a counteroffensive.
Resolving the Middle East issue will take time, and we do have time. Why rush it? Although we are not striking for the moment, there will inevitably come a day when we must. Should the other side attack Zhangzhou, Shantou, Fuzhou, or Hangzhou, that would be ideal. What do you think of this plan? Might we convene a few comrades to discuss it? Putting politics first and carefully weighing all aspects is highly beneficial. Acting impulsively with a single burst of energy often leads to incomplete consideration—this has frequently been my own experience, sometimes resulting in miscalculations. What are your thoughts? If they do attack, let us wait a few days to think it through clearly.
[!]
Dehuai refers to Peng Dehuai, who at the time was a member of the CPC Central Military Commission, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Minister of National Defense, overseeing the daily work of the Military Commission. Kecheng refers to Huang Kecheng, who served as Secretary-General of the CPC Central Military Commission and Vice Minister of National Defense.
[2]
This refers to the artillery bombardment by the PLA Fujian Frontline Forces against the Kuomintang forces stationed on Kinmen Island. The shelling began on August 23, 1958. As the situation evolved, starting October 6, the Fujian Frontline Forces adopted a policy of alternating between firing and ceasing fire—shooting on some days and pausing on others—and on October 25 announced that they would refrain from shelling on even-numbered days, reserving odd-numbered days for artillery strikes. In mid-December 1961, live-fire shelling of Kinmen was halted, with only propaganda shells being fired toward Kinmen on odd-numbered days. On January 1, 1979, following an order from Minister of National Defense Xu Xiangqian, the Fujian Frontline Forces ceased all shelling of Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, Dadan, Erdan, and other islands, effective immediately.
[3]
Zhangzhou and Shantou refer to Zhangzhou in Fujian Province and Shantou in Guangdong Province.
Then we can launch another attack. Taken together, wouldn’t these measures constitute strategic planning—controlling the enemy from afar, ensuring victory in battle with greater confidence? We must adhere to the principle of never engaging in battles where success is uncertain. If you agree, please telegraph this letter to Ye and give it careful consideration, reporting back his views.
Good morning!
Mao Zedong
10:00 A.M., July 27
[1]
Ye Fei was, at the time, Political Commissar of the Fuzhou Military Region.