Mao used On Protracted War to explain tactics developed in World War II and instrumental in China s campaigns against the Japanese occupation. All these find expression in quick-decision offensive warfare on exterior lines in campaigns and battles and protracted defensive warfare on interior lines in strategy.” This is the concise version of what we have talked about. . 13. In that there were only two wars left: unjust wars (those waged by fascists and the bourgeoisie) and just wars (those waged by revolutionaries). Protracted People’s War (PPW) is a military theory developed by Mao Zedong during the Chinese Civil W ar and the war against the Japanese in China. Finally this mode of politics, war, brings about the formation of a new set of organization (tactics, strategy, etc) which ferments the wider political cause among the people. In this sense war of annihilation is different from war of attrition. Offensive mobile warfare was the primary mode of fighting with guerillaism serving as supplementary support because of the disparities between the Chinese armed forces and the Japanese armed forces; China had many poorly trained and equipped troops while Japan possessed a smaller number of highly trained and properly equipped men. Quick victory wasn’t possible. Because of these factors China was unable to win a quick victory. Context: On Protracted Waris a work comprising a series of speeches by Mao Zedong given from May 26 to June 3, 1938, at the Yenan Association for the Study of the War of Resistance Against Japan. Refutation of the Theory of National Subjugation. ISBN-13: 978-0898751796. Mobile warfare is fluid. Furthermore, the contradictions of Japanese Imperialism wouldn’t allow compromise or anything which hinted at anything less than a quick victory due to the need to speedily win the war against China. It’s called “Re-reading On Protracted War,” referring to the collection of speeches that communist leader Mao Zedong gave in 1938. Achieved, in part, through the United National Anti-Japanese Front, the whole of the Chinese nation needed to take part. For this reason it would be most prudent to quote him at length and say: “’Under what conditions do you think China can defeat and destroy the forces of Japan?’ ‘Three conditions are required first, the establishment of an anti-Japanese united front in China second, the formation of an international anti-Japanese united front; third, the rise of the revolutionary movement of the people in Japan and the Japanese colonies. Q24: When translated into wider strategic terms what is absolute superiority? Q30: How did China’s internal conditions factor into the rejection of “Only retreat, never advance”, and “Only advance, never retreat”? War Peace Sweat. Because of these factors China was unable to win a quick victory. Therefore concentration of forces and the use of encircling and outflanking tactics are the prerequisites for mobile warfare, that is, for quick-decision offensive warfare on exterior lines. By this it is meant that the Chinese people were not united in the war and were pessimistic about the ability to overcome Japan. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The same can be said of the relationship between the various guerrilla areas. For this reason it would be most prudent to quote him at length and say: Under what conditions do you think China can defeat and destroy the forces of Japan?’ ‘Three conditions are required first, the establishment of an anti-Japanese united front in China second, the formation of an international anti-Japanese united front; third, the rise of the revolutionary movement of the people in Japan and the Japanese colonies. Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2017. But it is the youth that must fight and die. A11: Several features, namely: the interior and exterior lines, possession and non-possession of a rear area, encirclement and counter-encirclement, and big areas and little areas. That was 11 years before the founding of … A5: Because the international situation was not favorable to such happening: the forces of the Kuomintang, who were supported by France, Britain, and the U.S, wouldn’t capitulate unless their backers said so. Q10: Militarily speaking, what hardships did the Chinese revolutionists face when traveling along the three stages of protracted war? Q28: Please “sum-up” the points discussed above in one paragraph. The questions and answers I have provided myself. Because of this it was best to lure in the enemy deep into Red Army territory and then to strike within a mobile frame: overwhelm the enemy and destroy them. The time of Mao’s writing-the Second World War-was when a great portion of the world was embroiled in an unjust war. Due to this tenants such as only advancing, is “desperate recklessness” while only retreating is flightism; both are strategies which not only forfeit any chances of victory to the enemy, but both are idealistic notions of warfare divorced from the concrete reality where engaging the enemy is to be used selectively and retreating the same way. Yet one must never forget that all plans, no matter how flawlessly executed, only last within such an operational limit. This means winning many battles and turning the situation to one of local superiority to one of national superiority, or that of relative superiority to absolute superiority. Yet even if the Nationalist government did cave-in to Japan the forces of wider Chinese society would furiously descend upon such traitors and prolong the war of resistance by giving fire to the revolutionary forces. This is the first form of enemy encirclement. Q11: Mao said that the Chinese war of resistance against Japan was unique in that it distinguished itself as a jigsaw puzzle. A34: The Japanese command made several glaring mistakes during the course of the war. On Protracted War by Mao Tse-Tung (Author) 4.7 out of 5 stars 10 ratings. (Study guide by RevLeft member TheGodlessUtopian). A24: Talked of another way absolute superiority is the strategic offensive. Buy the Artwork 'On Protracted War' by DAESUN CHOI (2019) : Painting Acrylic, Objects on Canvas - 63.9x51.3in Free Delivery Secure Payment Free Returns Actions might involve blockade operations, as well as commerce-raiding operations The time of Mao’s writing-the Second World War-was when a great portion of the world was embroiled in an unjust war. In this respect utilizing such ploys can be a useful tool in gaining the upper hand (absolute superiority). 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