Comments on the Publication of
〈Statement Against the U.S.–Ngo Dinh Diem [!] Gang’s
Aggression Against South Vietnam and Massacre of Its People〉[2]
(August 29, 1963)
To Comrades Liu, Zhou, and Deng Xiaoping: Please review it, then forward it to Xinhua News Agency for processing (to be broadcast tonight and published tomorrow).
Mao Zedong
With modifications made after consultation with Vietnamese comrades.
Chuan
Ngo Dinh Diem was at that time the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense of the Saigon regime known as the “Republic of Vietnam” in South Vietnam.
[2]
This statement was published in the People’s Daily on August 30, 1963. The title of the statement was proposed by Mao Zedong.
[3]
Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Xiaoping is Deng Xiaoping, who at the time served as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

．．Niuniu-yi
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Mao·
Page master stage ore head i~ has been desolate J response
The manuscript of Mao Zedong’s comments on the publication of the “Statement Against the U.S.–Ngo Dinh Diem Gang’s Aggression Against South Vietnam and Massacre of Its People.”

Telegram of Condolence on the Passing of Du Bois [I]
(August 29, 1963)
Mrs. Du Bois:
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Du Bois and wish to express my heartfelt condolences to you.
Dr. Du Bois was a great figure of our time. His courageous struggle for the liberation of Black people and all humanity, his outstanding academic achievements, and his sincere friendship with the Chinese people will forever remain in the memory of the Chinese people.
Mao Zedong
August 29, 1963
Chuan
Du Bois, a renowned African American scholar, passed away on August 27, 1963.

Strategic and Tactical Issues [I]
(August 30, 1963)
Your war is both a domestic and an international one, but primarily international. Ngo Dinh Diem cannot survive without U.S. support. China’s fight against Chiang Kai-shek was similar: outwardly it appeared as a domestic revolutionary war, yet in essence it was mainly directed against U.S. imperialism. At that time, China’s revolutionary tasks were, first, to oppose imperialism; second, to oppose feudalism; and third, to oppose bureaucratic capitalism. Feudal forces and bureaucratic capital could not stand without imperialist backing—they lacked both weapons and funds. When we fought Chiang Kai-shek, most of his weaponry, budget, and military expenditures were supplied by the United States.
Chiang Kai-shek was famously known as the “chief transport officer.” Ngo Dinh Diem is your equivalent. Judging from your reports, in 1961 and 1962 you captured quite a few firearms from the enemy.
Once the fighting intensifies, how do you plan to handle prisoners? A small number would be released, while the majority would be retained for use. These individuals have received training, including some mid- and lower-level cadres, mostly [I]
Parts One and Two of this document are excerpts from Mao Zedong’s conversation with Nguyen Mai Ky, head of the Southern Bureau of the Vietnamese Workers’ Party.
[2)
Ngo Dinh Diem was then serving as “President,” “Prime Minister,” and “Minister of National Defense” of the South Vietnamese regime.

They can be reformed and kept on board. To achieve victory, work among the enemy troops and a sound prisoner-of-war policy are crucial. Some enemy officers and technical personnel also harbor patriotic sentiments and can be educated. Among the Kuomintang officers captured at the battalion level, a few showed patriotic inclinations; after being educated, they joined us in the revolution. Certain doctors and technicians specializing in radio and other fields possessed valuable experience and proved highly useful when trained. If officer work is done well, entire battalions might defect in the future. In 1928, Bi Zhanyun Ill led a unit in an uprising—thirty-five years ago—demonstrating his firm resolve.
Wang Hui, our Minister of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building, was captured in 1930 and became the founder of our army’s radio communications system. It was only after he resolved to join our revolution that our radio communications truly took shape. Many captured doctors and medical personnel also chose to stay with us.
The current war in South Vietnam differs from previous conflicts that had North Vietnam as their main battlefield. During the anti-French war, French forces were involved, but no U.S. troops participated. Now, in South Vietnam, the main opposing force is Ngo Dinh Diem’s army, though U.S. soldiers are not the primary component. How to disintegrate Ngo Dinh Diem’s army is one of the key issues for achieving victory in the South Vietnamese revolutionary war. We must strive diligently to create favorable conditions. After all, everyone here is Vietnamese. Most of Ngo Dinh Diem’s soldiers come from working-class backgrounds, and while a minority of junior officers may also hail from the working class, the majority originate from the petty bourgeoisie. Even those not from lower social strata can still be reformed. Some high-ranking Kuomintang officers did indeed defect to collaborate with us. Zhang Zhizhong121 was a prominent general in Chiang Kai-shek’s army who came over to our side. [1)
Bi Zhanyun, formerly a battalion commander in the Kuomintang army.
In September 1928, he led his unit in an uprising in Guidong, Hunan, and joined the Red Army.
[2]
Zhang Zhizhong,
in January 1949 served as the chief representative of the Kuomintang government’s peace negotiation delegation.
On April 20 of the same year, after the Kuomintang government refused to sign the “Domestic Peace Agreement (Final Amendment),”
he withdrew
from the Kuomintang government.