The Fundamental Question in the Struggle Between the Two Lines
(March 1967)

The fundamental question in the struggle between the two lines within our Party is, after the proletariat has seized political power, that is, after the victory of the new-democratic revolution, whether China should take the capitalist road or the socialist road. The bourgeoisie wants to take the capitalist road; this is very obvious. Within our own Communist Party, we want to take the socialist road, but some people believe that China is a very poor and backward country, that the level of capitalist development in China is very low, that socialism cannot be developed, and that for a period of time the capitalist road must be taken, after which the socialist road can be taken.

The question of which road to take existed in the early days after liberation, and it still exists today. The Soviet Union has been at it for over fifty years, and this question still remains there.