The original letter was sent to the Premier and referred to the relevant State Council
organizations for study.
Mao Zedong,
December 11, 1972

[1] This comment was written in the 307th issue of the "Important Letters Digest" published
by the Letters and Visits Office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee in
December 1972. This issue of the Digest comprehensively reflects the letters sent by some
cadres and technical personnel from the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building, the 724th
Institute of the 7th Naval Research Institute, and the 63rd Air Force Regiment to Mao
Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. The letters pointed out some problems existing in national
defense research units, mainly: 1. The system and tasks are changing frequently, which
affects the completion of research projects. 2. Some units have been in a state of relocation
and capital construction for several years and have not produced a single new product.
Moving back and forth has caused serious waste. 3. Capital construction is too large and
foreign, and some projects have not yet been completed. 4. The scientific and technological
team is relatively chaotic. In some places, many scientific and technological personnel are
still in a state of self-precariousness, depressed, and unwilling to engage in design. Some
letters suggested that the institutes and institutes responsible for weapons and equipment
research be unified, and all institutes and institutes that should remain in the military should
be included in the military system. Regarding defense research units, some suggest placing
them under the leadership of the corresponding military services, while others call for them
to be under the leadership of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission.
Defense science and technology units should effectively integrate workers, technicians, and
leading cadres, as well as scientific research, production, and application. They should focus
on urgently needed weapons and equipment while also pursuing exploratory projects,
theoretical research, and technological reserves. [The text then abruptly shifts topics.]