Notes for Preparing to Strike Kinmen [I]
(August 18, 1958)
Comrade Dehuai (21):
We are preparing to strike Kinmen—directly against Chiang Kai-shek, indirectly against the United States. Therefore, there is no need to conduct exercises in the Guangdong-Shenzhen area; we must avoid alarming the British.
Mao Zedong
1:00 A.M., August 18
P.S.: Please instruct the Air Force Headquarters to be on alert: the Taiwan side may dispatch a large air formation (for example, dozens to over a hundred aircraft) to counterattack and regain air superiority over Kinmen and Matsu. Accordingly, we should promptly prepare to defeat them with a major air sortie. However, our pursuit should not cross the Kinmen–Matsu line.
Chuan
These notes were written on a report submitted by the Guangzhou Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army to the Central Military Commission on August 13, 1958, concerning deployment for exercises in the Shenzhen direction.
[2]
Dehuai refers to Peng Dehuai, who at that time served as a member of the CPC Central Military Commission, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Minister of National Defense, overseeing the day-to-day work of the Commission.