China And The U.S. Have No War, So They Can Have No Cease-Fire

Date: 1958-10
Source: en:FLP-Diplomacy
CHINA AND THE U.S. HAVE NO WAR,
SO THEY CAN HAVE NO CEASE-FIRE*
(October 1958)
The United States of America occupies Taiwan, the Penghu Islands and
the Taiwan Straits, which is a problem involving China and the United States.
It should be solved through negotiations between the two countries, and now
negotiations are being held in Warsaw.^®' The Americans will have to leave
some time; they cannot always stay there. It is advantageous for them to leave
earlier, because it gives them the initiative. Leaving later is disadvantageous,
because it is always passive. Why should a country of the eastern Pacific come
to the western Pacific? The western Pacific Ocean belongs to the people of the
western Pacific Ocean, just as the eastern Pacific Ocean belongs to the people
of the eastern Pacific Ocean. This is common sense and the American people
should know it. There is no war between the Peoples Republic of China and
the U.S., so there is no fire to be ceased. It is ridiculous to talk about ceasing
fire when there is no firing.
(October 6, 1958)
(From People's Daily, October 6, 1958)
* These are passages from "Message to Our Compatriots in Taiwan," "Order to the
PLA Men on the Front Line in Fujian" and "Another Message to Our Compatriots in
Taiwan" respectively—all drafted by Mao Zedong. The first and second passages were issued
in the name of the Minister of National Defense, Peng Dehuai; the last was also going to be
issued in his name, but publication was canceled for some reason.
n
The Americans want to lend a hand in China's civil war. They call it a
cease-fire, but one cannot help laughing. Are they qualified to talk about this
matter? Whom do they represent? No one. Do they represent the American
people? There is no war between China and the U.S., so there is no fire to be
ceased. Do they represent the Taiwan people? The Taiwan authorities have not
granted them certificates of appointment. Actually, the Kuomintang leaders
object to negotiations between China and the U.S. The United States is a great
nation, and its people are good and honest. They don't want war, but love
peace. However, some people in the U.S. government, such as Dulles'^ and his
like, are not at all clever. For instance, the so-called cease-fire—isn't it lack of
common sense? To recover all the territory of Taiwan, the Penghu Islands,
Jinmen and Mazu and complete the unification of the motherland—this is the
sacred task of the 650 million Chinese people. It is an internal affair of the
Chinese people and no outsiders, not even the United Nations, have the right
to interfere. All the invaders and their running dogs are doomed to be buried,
and that won't be very long. They cannot escape, even if they run away to
the moon. If the enemy can go there, we can go there too; anyhow, they will
be brought back. In a word, victory belongs to the people all over the world.
In the Jinmen sea area Americans are not allowed to convoy Kuomintang ships.
If they do, fire as soon as you find them. This order is hereby issued in all
earnestness!
(October 13, 1958)
(From People's Daily, October 13, 1958)
m
What is being negotiated in Warsaw is the matter of the Americans going
away. They are dealing with us as if talking about business. They want to
exchange Jinmen and Mazu for Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, thus creating
two Chinas. What a sweet dream! Cease-fire, cease-fire, and cease-fire once
again! We really do not know how much common sense these American officials
have. It seems they have little. If they are talking about the matter on behalf
of their own nation, the United States, there is no fire to be ceased, since there
is no war between China and the U.S. It is clear that they cannot represent

themselves. If they represent you, it is also a sham. Your leaders object to the
Warsaw negotiations and mock a cease-fire. You have not entrusted the
Americans as your representatives. Even if you do, we don't agree either. Why
should you entrust a foreign country to be your representative for negotiations
instead of holding direct negotiations between our two Chinese political
parties? For such negotiations we feel shame; therefore, we don't agree.
Discussed in Warsaw is the relationship between China and the United States.
It will be thus for 10,000 years.
(October 13, 1958)
(From the original manuscript)