Comments on the Report Concerning the Scheduled Detonation Time for the Second Nuclear Test and the Draft Press Communiqué[1]

(May 12, 1965)

Return to Premier [Zhou Enlai][2] for review.

Agreed.[3]

Mao Zedong
9:00 a.m., May 12

--- Notes

[1] This is Mao Zedong’s comment on the report submitted by Zhou Enlai on May 11, 1965, which forwarded the report by Zhang Aiping, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army and Deputy Director of the National Defense Science Commission, and Liu Xiyao, Vice Minister of the Second Ministry of Machine Building and Deputy Director of the National Defense Science Commission, concerning the scheduled detonation time for the second nuclear test, along with the draft press communiqué.
[2] This refers to Zhou Enlai.
[3] Zhou Enlai’s forwarding report stated: “There will likely be over 20 hours of good weather from May 12 to 13. After consulting with Comrades Luo Ruiqing, Yang Chengwu, Liu Jie, and others, we have instructed the front-line units to prepare for action. The front line has telegraphed that action is set for tomorrow. The post-action press communiqué has been reviewed by all comrades of the Standing Committee and is now submitted for approval.” At 10:00 a.m. on May 14, 1965, the second nuclear test was successfully conducted. On May 15, the Xinhua News Agency officially issued the press communiqué on China’s second nuclear test.