Compatriots, military and civilian, in Taiwan, Penghu, Jinmen, and Mazu: We completely understand that the absolute majority of you are patriotic; only a very small minority are willing to be slaves of the Americans.
Compatriots, Chinese affairs can only be resolved by us Chinese ourselves.
If they are difficult to resolve for a time, they can be discussed at length.
The American political broker Dulles [2], loves to meddle in other people's business. He wants to stick a hand into the matter of the historical dispute between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, ordering Chinese people to do this and that, harming the interests of the Chinese people to suit the interests of the Americans.
That is to say, first step, isolate Taiwan; second step, place Taiwan under trusteeship.
If his wishes are not met, the most venomous means can be brought out.
Do you know how General Zhang Zuolin [3] died? There is a place in the Northeast called Huanggutun; it was there that he was done to death by others.
The imperialists of the world have no conscience.
The American imperialists are especially vicious, at least no less so than the Japanese who did Zhang Zuolin to death.
Compatriots, I advise you to be a bit careful.
I advise you not to be too dependent on others, letting them take all power away.
The affairs between our two parties are very easy to handle.
I have already ordered the Fujian front not to shell, on even-numbered days, Jinmen's airfield, the docks, beaches, and ships at Liaoluo Bay, so that the military and civilian compatriots on the islands of Greater Jinmen, Lesser Jinmen, Dadan, Erdan, and other big and small islands can all get sufficient supplies, including grain, vegetables, cooking oil, fuel, and military equipment, to facilitate your long-term defense.
If there are shortages, you only need to ask, and we can supply you.
This is the time to turn enemies into friends.
On odd-numbered days, your ships and airplanes should not come.
We will not necessarily shell on odd-numbered days either, but you should not come, to avoid possible losses.
This way, for half of the days in a month, you can transport, and supplies can be without want.
Some of you suspect that we want to disintegrate the unity between your military and civilians, and between your officers and soldiers.
Compatriots, no, we hope you will strengthen your unity, so as to be united against the outside.
To fight and to stop, to half-fight and half-stop, is not a stratagem, but a normal product of the current concrete circumstances.
Not shelling the airfield, docks, beaches, and ships is still conditional on not bringing in American escorts.
If there are escorts, this does not apply.
In the Jiang-Dulles talks [4], you suffered a bit of a loss. You only have the right to speak as a representative of "Free China"; plus a small portion of overseas Chinese, you are also permitted to represent them.
The Americans have dubbed you a small China.
On October 23, the U.S. State Department released a talk pre-recorded on October 16 by Dulles with a reporter from a British broadcasting company. As soon as Dulles took off from Taiwan, the talk was released.
He said he saw a Communist China, and said that this country truly exists, that he is willing to deal with it, and so on and so forth.
Thank heavens, our country has been seen by an American master.
This is a big China.
The Americans, forced by the situation, have changed their policy, treating you as a "de facto political unit," but in fact not as a country.
This kind of "de facto political unit" is still needed by the Americans in the first stage that is now beginning.
This is to isolate Taiwan.
In the second stage, they will want to place Taiwan under trusteeship.
Friends of the Kuomintang, do you not yet sense this danger? Where is the way out? Please think about it.
The communiqué from the recent Jiang-Dulles talks is merely a communiqué; it has no legal force. It is easy to cast off; it just depends on whether you have the determination.
There is only one China in the world, not two Chinas.
On this point, we are in agreement.
The trick of the Americans forcibly creating two Chinas is something that the entire Chinese people, including you and the overseas compatriots, will absolutely not permit to be realized.
The present era is an era full of hope. All patriots have a way out; do not be afraid of any imperialists.
Of course, we are not advising you to break with the Americans right away. To think so would be unrealistic.
We only hope that you will not yield to American pressure, be at their beck and call, lose your sovereignty, and finally end up with no place to stand, thrown into the sea by others.
These words of ours are of good intention, not ill will. In the future, you will slowly understand.

Minister of National Defense Peng Dehuai
October 25, 1958
Printed according to the *People's Daily* of October 26, 1958.

Notes
[1] This was drafted by Mao Zedong.
[2] Dulles was then the U.S. Secretary of State.
[3] Zhang Zuolin (1875-1928), a native of Haicheng, Liaoning, was the leader of the Fengtian clique of warlords during the period of Beiyang warlord rule. He ruled the Northeast for a long time with the support of Japanese imperialism. In 1926, he appointed himself Commander-in-Chief of the Anguojun and, in alliance with the Zhili clique warlord Wu Peifu, entered and occupied Beijing. In June 1928, after being defeated in battle with Chiang Kai-shek, he retreated to the Northeast. While passing through the Huanggutun station, he was killed by a bomb pre-planted by the Japanese Guandong Army.
[4] The Jiang-Dulles talks refer to the talks held in Taiwan from October 21 to 23, 1958, between Chiang Kai-shek and U.S. Secretary of State Dulles. The communiqué from the talks stated, "The United States recognizes that the Republic of China is the authentic spokesman for Free China and of the hopes and aspirations entertained by the great majority of the Chinese people."