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Documents

June 1958

[Mao Zedong's] Directive Regarding the Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs

Mao calls for China to develop nuclear weapons within ten years.

August 22, 1964

Conversation from [Mao Zedong's] Audience with Foreign Guests Who Visited China after Attending the 10th World Conference Against the Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs

Mao meets with guests from different countries who oppose the use of nuclear weapons. Among other topics such as the the Chinese Civil War, they discuss American aggression, the plight of African Americans, and anti-imperialist struggles around the world.

September 30, 1965

Minutes of Chairman Mao Zedong and Chairman Liu Shaoqi’s Meeting with the Indonesian Delegation

Chairul Seleh of Indonesia met with Mao and discussed nuclear power, Indonesian economy and industry, Chinese-Indonesian relations, and imperialism.

September 21, 1964

Letter from Zhou Enlai to Mao Zedong on the Nuclear Explosion

Zhou Enlai offers multiple dates on which the first nuclear test explosion may take place and asks Mao Zedong for his preference.

July 18, 1960

Mao Zedong’s Talk at the Beidaihe Central Committee Work Conference (Excerpt)

Mao Zedong declares that, in the absence of Soviet assistance, China must rely only upon itself in its pursuit of technological modernity and socialism.

June 21, 1958

Address by Mao Zedong to the Enlarged Meeting of the Central Military Commission (Excerpt)

Mao addresses the Central Military Commission to report on China's steel production, which he believes will surpass the Soviet Union's capability in seven years and the United States' in ten. He also makes it known that China will build "atom bombs, hydrogen bombs and inter-continental missiles," and believes this can be done in as few as ten years.

February 28, 1958

Conversation of Mao Zedong with Soviet Ambassador Pavel Yudin (Excerpt)

In a conversation with Soviet ambassador Yudin, Mao sees a prohibition of the use of hydrogen weapons as very likely, as the capitalist countries "[fear] fighting this kind of war." Further, he notes that the socialist countries have an advantage over Western ones in terms of conventional army size.

April 25, 1956

Talk by Mao Zedong at an Enlarged Meeting of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Politburo (Excerpts)

Mao speaks to the Central Committee Politburo about the need to develop an atomic bomb to avoid being "bullied," but stresses that this can only happen if economic development increases simultaneously.