Comments on a Situation Report

(September 4, 1959)

Comrades Zhou and Chen:[2]

The Indian troops at Yaxie’er[4] have fled. They fled on the 26th, under the influence of the strike at Migyitun (Miji Dun)[3]—that is, the Longju area—on the 25th. Please contact the General Staff Department. How many places where the invaders have not yet fled still remain? I request to be informed! Also, where exactly is Yaxie’er located? Please investigate and inform me as well.

Mao Zedong
September 4

[1] Refers to the report on the reconnaissance situation of the Indian troops at Yaxie’er, submitted by the Tibet Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to the General Staff Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 24:00 hours on September [day missing] 1959.
[2] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Chen refers to Chen Yi, then Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
[3] On August 25, 1959, a unit of the Indian armed forces intruded into the Longju area, which belongs to China’s territory, attacked our border defense post at Migyitun (referred to as “Miji Dun” in Mao Zedong’s comment), and provoked an armed conflict. Our border defense troops were compelled to fight back in self-defense.
[4] Yaxie’er is located at 93°12’ east longitude and 23°38’ north latitude. It is within Chinese territory and north of the “McMahon Line.”