Comment on the Draft Directive [!]
(April 13, 1965)
Read and approved.
Mao Zedong
April 13th
[I] This comment was written on a report submitted on April 10, 1965, by Deng Xiaoping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, to Mao Zedong et al., concerning the Central Committee’s directive on intensifying war preparedness work (revised draft of April 9). The draft directive stated that U.S. imperialism was taking steps to escalate the war in Vietnam, directly invading the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, thereby seriously threatening China’s security. We have repeatedly made clear to the entire world our solemn position: we cannot remain indifferent; we are prepared to fight alongside the Vietnamese people at any time. We must also be ready to confront the possibility that U.S. aggression will be brought onto our own territory.
The Central Committee believed that, under the current circumstances, efforts to strengthen war preparedness should be intensified. Among all Party cadres at or above the county level, it is necessary to reinforce the mindset of war readiness and closely monitor developments in the Vietnamese theater of operations. It is essential to anticipate that the enemy may take reckless actions. Both ideologically and operationally, we must prepare for the most severe scenarios—namely, U.S. air strikes against our military installations, industrial bases, transportation hubs, and major cities, up to and including combat on Chinese soil. We must envisage the situation as grave and carry out thorough preparations for war, particularly at key military facilities, industrial centers, transportation nodes, and large cities, ensuring effective measures are in place to counter enemy air raids. We need to be prepared for small-scale, medium-scale, and even large-scale hostilities. Such preparation can only benefit us and will bring no harm. As long as we make every necessary preparation, whatever may occur will leave us in an invincible position, and victory is certain to be ours. The draft directive also set forth specific current measures for war preparedness and outlined matters requiring attention from leaders at all levels.
On April 14, the CPC Central Committee issued this directive as Document Zhongfa [65] No. 208, transmitting it to Party committees at the county and regimental levels.

Archival photo
1965: Mao Zedong in Hangzhou.