The development of the united front in the past century

In the 100-year struggle of the Chinese Communist Party, the United Front as a grand strategy and great wisdom runs through it, and has its obvious development context.

United Front in the Democratic Revolution Period

Origin and establishment of the Chinese United Front . From the Opium War to the May Fourth Movement, nearly 80 years of arduous exploration have convinced people of insight that the future and destiny of Chinese society lies in democracy and science. This is the consensus of people with lofty ideals and the background of the Chinese revolution. How to realize democracy and science, the Communists chose Marxism-Leninism, studied and discussed the issue of the united front at the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and then, with the help of Lenin and the Communist International, based on the reality of the Chinese bourgeois democratic revolution, At the Second Congress of the Communist Party of China, it was decided to implement a united front, and the Third Congress of the Communist Party of China decided to cooperate with the Kuomintang. It can be said that the united front was born with the party, and from the very beginning, it has undertaken the mission of liberating all mankind and fulfilling the important task of establishing a true people's republic. As far as the short-term goals are concerned, to overthrow the foreign powers, eradicate warlords, and start a national revolution, it is necessary to build an alliance with Sun Yat-sen and the Kuomintang under his leadership on the basis of the workers' and peasants' movement. In January 1924, the Kuomintang held a major convening, marking the first cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, which opened a new chapter in the National Revolution.

From January 20th to 30th, 1924, the first national congress of the Chinese Kuomintang was held in Guangzhou. In fact, the three major revolutionary policies of "joining Russia, the Communist Party, and assisting farmers and workers" were established, marking the first time that cooperated with the Communist Party of China is officially formed.

go to the countryside to consolidate and expand the united front of workers and peasants. After the April 12 counter-revolutionary coup in 1927, the first Kuomintang-Communist cooperation broke down and the revolutionary situation fell into a low ebb. Our party was in a very dangerous situation and had to shift the focus of the revolution from the cities to the countryside to create base areas. However, in order to stand firm, stand firm, and win people's hearts in the countryside, it is necessary to unite and mobilize a wider range of peasant masses to consolidate a united front based on the alliance of workers and peasants, and to consolidate this united front, the most basic policy measures That is to fight the local tyrants, divide the fields, and let the cultivators have their own fields. Of course, timely adjustment of land reform policies, taking into account the lives and interests of landlords, rich peasants, and middle peasants, is also part of the topic of consolidating the democratic united front of workers and peasants. Thanks to the efforts of many comrades in the party including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping and others, a lot of united front work has been carried out, and the united front of workers and peasants has been expanded. One of the divisions of became the Red Army , which made the 26th Route Army in Jiangxi declare an uprising; another example, united with Soong Ching Ling , actively supported the China Civil Rights Protection Alliance founded by her, and strengthened her support for the Communist Party of China and . Trust; another example, promote the unity and struggle of the cultural circles, strengthen the leadership of the left-wing cultural movement, unite a large number of intellectuals, break the Kuomintang's cultural "encirclement and suppression", and effectively cooperate with the party's political and military struggle. The expansion of the united front of workers and peasants has played a significant role in our party's breakthrough in the Long March, and the establishment of an anti-Japanese national united front.

made unremitting efforts to build an anti-Japanese national united front. After the September 18th Incident in 1931, the Japanese army's ambition to invade China became clear, the ethnic contradiction between China and Japan rose to the main domestic contradiction, and the anti-Japanese anger rose one after another across the country. On the issue of right and wrong, which is related to the life and death of the country and the nation, our party immediately expressed its resolute anti-Japanese attitude, held high the banner of anti-Japanese righteousness, and called for the establishment of an anti-Japanese national united front. "A Letter to All Compatriots"), which for the first time put forward the strategy of the anti-Japanese national united front in a relatively complete manner, extending the scope of the united front from workers, peasants, soldiers, academics and businessmen to all parties, factions, walks of life, all walks of life, and all ethnic groups. At the end of the year, the Party Central Committee held the Wayaobao Conference, which established the Party's strategy and policy of the anti-Japanese national united front, and Mao Zedong systematically discussed this theoretically. In order to implement this strategy, our party has dispatched a large number of capable cadres and the masses to join the fight against Japan and save the nation, and participated in, organized and led the country from all walks of life to save the nation. Mao Zedong and others also personally gave to the leftists of the KuomintangAnd famous social figures such as Shen Junru, Zou Taofen, Tao Xingzhi, Zhang Naiqi, Soong Ching Ling, Cai Yuanpei, Feng Yuxiang, Xu Deheng, Du Bincheng, etc. wrote letters to praise their patriotism and the righteousness of resisting Japan. These massive and meticulous work have strongly promoted the establishment of the anti-Japanese national united front. Because our party attached great importance to and strengthened the united front work of Yang Hucheng of the Northwest Army and Zhang Xueliang of the Northeast Army, after the Party Central Committee arrived in northern Shaanxi in 1935, it formed a "Northwest Alliance" with them to unite and fight against Japan. The occurrence and peaceful settlement of the Xi'an Incident was the result of the in-depth development of the Anti-Japanese National United Front. On July 7, 1937, the Lugouqiao Incident broke out, and the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party became more urgent. On September 22, the Central News Agency of the Kuomintang finally published the "Declaration of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to Announce the Cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party." The next day, Chiang Kai-shek made a speech on this, acknowledging the legal status of the CCP, marking the second time of the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation and the official anti-Japanese national united front. form.

On December 27, 1935, Mao Zedong made a report "On the Strategy against Japanese Imperialism" at a meeting of party activists, further clarifying the spirit of the Wayaobao meeting.

is a practitioner and defender of the Anti-Japanese National United Front. The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized at the Luochuan Conference held in August 1937 that to achieve victory in the War of Resistance, a comprehensive line of resistance must be implemented, that is, to implement the broadest anti-Japanese national united front, and in this united front, we must adhere to the party's leadership. For this reason, at the beginning of the all-out war of resistance, our party went to the front line, cooperated with the frontal battlefield of the Kuomintang army, opened up battlefields behind the enemy, established anti-Japanese bases, and launched an independent guerrilla war. Timely overcome and correct the error of "everything goes through the united front and everything obeys the united front". Through the Eighth Route Army offices established in more than ten cities, we have mobilized, supported and organized various parties, ethnic minorities, overseas Chinese, and cultural figures to unite in the war of resistance, and constantly enrich and strengthen the united front. In the anti-Japanese base areas, our party attaches great importance to the construction of the "three three systems" regime, and attaches great importance to unity and absorption of intellectuals, which fully reflects the broadness and tolerance of the anti-Japanese democratic regime. Even in the most difficult and difficult period of the anti-Japanese base areas, our party still insisted on uniting against the Japanese, striving for, transforming and uniting all factors beneficial to the anti-Japanese, such as trying to rescue and protect the cultural circles in Hong Kong, northern Jiangsu and other regions. In the Kuomintang-ruled areas, the Party Central Committee and its branches regarded the rights of the people's democracy as a necessary condition for the anti-Japanese national united front. In the face of the anti-communist friction of the Kuomintang diehards , our party held high the banner of unity and progress in the War of Resistance, opposed secession, surrender, and retrogression. It used the strategy of "developing progressive forces, fighting for the middle forces, and isolating the stubborn forces", and adopted "reasonable, beneficial, and effective" strategies. "Festivals" principle of struggle, seeking unity through struggle, and resolving crises one after another.

For peace, for democracy, for the new China. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it is the common aspiration of the broadest masses of the people to demand peace and democracy and build a bright new China, and the realization of this aspiration is a major mission of the People's Democratic United Front led by the Party. Our party knew that Chiang Kai-shek was going to start a civil war, but even if there was only a glimmer of hope, we had to fight for peace. It was with such sincerity that Mao Zedong and other communists went to Chongqing to negotiate; our party knew that Chiang Kai-shek would stubbornly insist on dictatorship, but Still participated in the old Political Consultative Conference with the democratic parties, fighting for the democratization of politics. However, the Kuomintang soon tore up the CPPCC agreement, and a full-scale civil war broke out. In 1947, when the People's Liberation Army shifted from strategic defense to strategic offensive, the Party Central Committee held a December meeting and put forward the most extensive "democratic united front, overthrow the dictatorial government of Chiang Kai-shek, and establish a democratic coalition government" as a basic political program. come out. To this end, the land reform movement in the liberated areas under the leadership of our party, the patriotic democratic movement in the and areas under the national control, and the uprising of some Kuomintang generals surrendered, forming a strong lineup of the people's democratic united front and accelerating the victory of the people's liberation war. On April 30, 1948, the CPC Central Committee issued the famous "May Day Slogan", calling on all democratic parties, people's organizations, and social leaders to quickly convene a political consultative conference to establish a democratic coalition government. In June 1949, people from all walks of life in the United FrontGather Peiping , discuss the grand plan of building a country, and hold a preparatory meeting for the new CPPCC. On September 21, the first plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was held, which marked the great victory of the new democratic revolution and its united front, and was a milestone in the history of the development of the united front.

From June 15th to 19th, 1949, the first plenary meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the New CPPCC was held at the Qinzheng Hall in Zhongnanhai, Beijing. The Standing Committee of the New CPPCC Preparatory Committee took a group photo at Zhongnanhai .

The united front after the founding of New China

is marching towards socialism under the banner of Five Star Red. After the founding of New China, the United Front was faced with new situations and tasks, and it was obligatory to complete the tasks left over from the democratic revolution, restore the national economy, consolidate the newly-born regime, invest in resisting US aggression and aid Korea, land reform and suppressing counter-revolutionary movements. Under the leadership of the party, there is a transition period from new democracy to socialism, so there needs to be a new approach to understanding and handling the relationship between democratic parties, the national bourgeoisie, intellectuals, and national religions. The perspective and scientific orientation of China require correct, reasonable and prudent policies. Therefore, Mao Zedong particularly emphasized at the Third Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Party that the whole Party must do the united front work conscientiously and prudently. In order to solve these problems, the First, Second, and Third National United Front Work Conferences, in accordance with the " Common Program ", clarified relevant theoretical policies, corrected and clarified some wrong ideas and understandings. For example, after the "Three Antis" and "Five Antis" movements, the united front work on the national bourgeoisie has been raised to a more important position, and it is clear that the national bourgeoisie is no longer an intermediate class, but it still has two sides. policy of struggle. In September 1954, the first National People's Congress was held, and the first constitution of the People's Republic of China was passed. 's mandate, but continued to exist as a united front organization for political consultation.

The united front marches in a zigzag adjustment. In 1956, the socialist system was established in my country. How to better unite the members of the united front and devote themselves to the construction of socialism with a brand-new ideological attitude. The Party Central Committee approved and forwarded the United Front work formulated by the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee.” Seven-year policy", which made education the central work of the united front. In "On the Ten Major Relationships", Mao Zedong put forward the policy of "long-term coexistence and mutual supervision" between the Communist Party and the democratic parties, and then put forward "let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend". In September, the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, pointing out that the main contradiction in the country is no longer the contradiction between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, and we must continue to consolidate and expand our people's democratic united front. In order to implement the spirit of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee held a meeting to issue opinions on issues such as the Federation of Industry and Commerce, intellectuals, personnel arrangements, and the local CPPCC. In particular, according to the requirements of the Central Committee, it issued instructions on further inspection of the United Front Work. However, the situation changed in 1957, and the violent anti-rightist struggle caused a setback to the party-led united front cause. Our party has also noticed the serious problems that exist, and has taken measures to adjust and ease them. For example, at the 10th National United Front Work Conference in 1958, the policy of "relaxation" should be implemented for the united front, and the democratic parties, intellectuals and assets should be "relaxed". Class elements should not keep fighting and tightening the strings, but should arouse their enthusiasm for serving socialism. To this end, the business community announced the "five constants" policy (fixed interest rates, high salaries, political arrangements, academic titles, and fundamental reforms), and made it clear that no "anti-rightist movement" should be carried out among people outside the party. Movement, to remove the hats of some people classified as rightists, to check and correct the mistakes of the "left" that violated the united front policy, to improve cooperation with people outside the party, to "take off the hats" for intellectuals, etc. During the "Cultural Revolution", the party's united front work was impacted, and the majority of United Front members and cadres were brutally attacked and persecuted, and the activities of United Front organizations were forced to stop. Fortunately, it was only with the efforts and concern of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other comrades, especially Zhou Enlai's best efforts to maintain the united front, that the unificationThe First Front was able to continue with difficulty, a large number of famous personalities, experts and scholars were protected, and the damage of the United Front was mitigated.

The United Front has entered a new historical period. In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held, which realized the comprehensive correction of chaos in the party's guiding ideology. It was a great turning point of far-reaching significance for our party since the founding of New China. , the era of class struggle as the key link has come to an end, and the era of uniting all ethnic groups and strata in society to engage in economic construction has come. Restoring the work of the People's Political Consultative Conference, the democratic parties, the Federation of Industry and Commerce, and other united front fields, rehabilitating unjust, false and wrongful convictions, and removing all rightist hats are all on the important agenda. The greatest effect of these policies and measures is to greatly mobilize and improve various enthusiasms and social relations at home and abroad, "unite everything that can be united", and form a powerful force for building socialist modernization. In June 1979, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that since the founding of New China, the social class situation in our country has undergone fundamental changes, and the united front has become "a broad alliance of socialist laborers and patriots who support socialism". He also emphasized that the united front should not only build my country into a powerful modern socialist country, but also realize cross-strait reunification and complete the great cause of national reunification. In June 1981, the "Resolution on Several Historical Issues of the Party since the founding of the People's Republic of China" passed by the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out, "We must unswervingly unite all forces that can be united, consolidate and expand our country's patriotism. United Front ." This is conducive to uniting all patriotic people within the United Front, so that the scope of the United Front can be greatly expanded.

On December 18, 1978, representatives attending the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China raised their hands to vote.

A patriotic united front on the move. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the United Front entered a new era of the patriotic United Front. The patriotic united front is a major strategy of our party, and there are bound to be several important strategic fulcrums to realize this major strategy. These strategic fulcrums are mainly reflected in: putting forward the concept of "one country, two systems", incorporating the multi-party cooperation system into the constitution, promulgating the "Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy", determining the nature and status of the non-public economy, and strengthening the understanding of intellectual issues. importance, and clarify the development direction of the sinicization of religion. Although the formation of these strategic fulcrums has an evolutionary development process, it is this process that enriches its own connotation and meaning. For example, on the issue of the non-public economy, our party's ideological understanding has gradually deepened, and its principles and policies have become increasingly clear. Finally, in the report of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, it is clear that the non-public economy is an important part of the socialist market economy; another example, in 1989, the party The Central Committee issued an opinion on the multi-party cooperation system, which was enshrined in the Constitution in 1993, and in 2005, the Party Central Committee issued an opinion on further strengthening the construction of this system, which means that the process of persistence, improvement and development is sufficient. Another example is the development of the patriotic united front from the original "three" to "four", that is, the alliance of socialist laborers, builders of socialist causes, patriots who support socialism, and patriots who support the reunification of the motherland , showing an unprecedented breadth; another example is with the change of my country's social and economic structure, the rapid development of information network technology, and the existence of a large number of social diversity, requiring the United Front work to develop and innovate, and include people from new social strata into the scope of work become a new focus.

United Front Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of my country, our country has been closer to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history, and at the same time, it is also facing many great struggles with new historical characteristics. For the united front to provide broader support for the realization of national rejuvenation, it is necessary to make full use of the important magic weapon of the united front to promote the breadth and depth of the united front work. The Central United Front Work Conference held in May 2015, and then promulgated the United Front Work Regulations, established the Central United Front Work Leading Group, and built a large United Front work pattern, which is a milestone in the history of the party's united front. On a specific level, in the work of overseas students, it reiterated the party's policy on intellectuals, adhered to the work policy of supporting overseas students, encouraging return to China, free to come and go, and play a role, and pointed out that overseas students are the living things of national rejuvenation.strength; in the work of people from new social classes, relevant departments in all regions are boldly innovating and actively exploring, and the united front work of new social class people has achieved innovative development and presented a new situation; in the work of ethnic groups, it is required to deepen the education of ethnic unity and progress, and cast a solid foundation. A sense of community of the Chinese nation, strengthening exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups; in the great cause of national reunification, advocating the concept of "cross-strait one family" to realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; in religious work, actively guide religion and socialist society. On the issue of deliberative democracy, focus on strengthening leadership in the construction of socialist consultative democracy, and make comprehensive arrangements for political party consultations, people's congress consultations, government consultations, CPPCC consultations, people's organizations consultations, grassroots consultations, and social organization consultations; In the work of the non-public economy, it is emphasized that private entrepreneurs are our own people, and we will continue to create a better development environment for the private economy; in the work of the CPPCC, we have issued opinions on strengthening and improving the work of the CPPCC in the new era, emphasizing the need to better build consensus , to uphold the CPPCC system and develop the CPPCC cause...

The resolution passed by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, in which adherence to the united front is an important experience in the party's century-long struggle, emphasizing that the united front is the party's An important magic weapon for overcoming the enemy and winning, is also an important magic weapon for the party to govern and rejuvenate the country. The Central United Front Work Conference held in July 2022 put forward General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on doing a good job in the party's united front work in the new era, and pointed out that the United Front should safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and comprehensively build socialist modernization. The country plays a more important role in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, in focusing on the center, serving the overall situation, in strengthening the party's class base and expanding the party's mass base. The Party Central Committee once again emphasized the important value of the united front and assigned a more important historical mission.

From July 29th to 30th, 2022, the Central United Front Work Conference was held in Beijing.

The historical revelation of the United Front in the past 100 years

The United Front led by the party has accumulated rich experience and wisdom after a hundred years of struggle, leaving us a lot of profound historical revelation. The author states the following points from a macro level:

holds high the banners of patriotism and socialism. Why can the united front led by the party have long-term cohesion and appeal? Mainly because these two flags are held high. It is through these two flags that people of all nationalities, all walks of life and all levels of society recognize and judge our party, and then choose to be close and distant to our party. The spirit of these two flags is practiced in the society, one conforms to the trend of the times, and the other reflects and represents the will and interests of the general public, so it will inevitably generate a strong appeal and cohesion. For example, on the issue of resisting Japan and saving the nation, which is a matter of national righteousness, our party has a clear-cut stand and unremitting efforts to build an anti-Japanese national united front is a concentrated expression of patriotism. The anti-Japanese will and strength of the people of all ethnic groups have been greatly condensed. Treating people and events in different periods with patriotism will undoubtedly greatly increase the inclusiveness of the united front. No matter what beliefs he holds or what party stance he is, as long as he has patriotism, he can unite and fight for it. It is true that when our party was founded, it took socialism as its banner and implemented the theoretical policies of New Democracy, but the two are not contradictory, but have an inherent unity. As Mao Zedong pointed out, New Democracy is a The necessary preparations for socialism, socialism is the inevitable trend of new democracy. New Democracy, new is new in its future direction is socialism. It is precisely because of the rich socialist elements and connotations of New Democracy that the united front based on the alliance of workers and peasants continues to consolidate and grow. Therefore, patriotism with morality as its foothold and starting point, while pursuing lofty socialist ideals, is the inexhaustible driving force for the development of China's united front.

Keeping the united front alive lies in the practice of democracy. Democracy is not a patented product of one party or one faction, but an inevitable product of the development of human society; in our country, it is an inevitable product of social development since modern times, and is the will, consensus and pursuit of all walks of life at all levels of society. Although people have different understandings of democracy and different ways to achieve democracy, there is the greatest consensus on the issue of opposing feudal dictatorship and autocracy. it is for thisThe unremitting pursuit of consensus has enabled our party to form a like-minded united front with all progressive parties, progressive groups and their people with lofty ideals in the cause of China's revolution and construction. Our party's leadership in the consolidated united front is due to its exemplary democratic practice and excellent democratic style. The construction of the "Three Three Systems" regime in the anti-Japanese base areas, the democratic constitutionalism movement in the Kuomintang-ruled areas, and the construction of a democratic coalition government have had a great impact on all walks of life and people outside the party; Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other older generation of proletarian revolutionaries , The sincere democratic spirit, democratic consciousness, democratic demeanor, and the United Front art of respecting the meritocracy, humility and tolerance, and treating others as equals in the exchanges and exchanges with people outside the party are all convincing, trusting and admiring. These extensive and profound democratic practices have enabled the members of the united front to maintain their own subjectivity, independence and initiative, and have given our party a high prestige in the united front. This is the key to the vitality and long-term vitality of the united front. .

The united front must deal with consistency and diversity. In the history of the party's united front, it has not been a long time to clarify the relationship between consistency and diversity as a principle, but it is in line with the development logic of a century-old united front. That is to say, the development process of the united front basically revolves around how to handle this relationship, and whether it can be handled correctly is directly related to the consolidation, expansion and development of the united front. Generally speaking, the existence and development of social diversity, whether it is a period of revolution or a period of peaceful construction, especially in the current period of reform and opening up, is generally positive and reasonable. This requires that our thinking methods should avoid subjective dogmas. , simple and mechanical, absolutely rigid, let alone view the rich and colorful social diversity from a passive and hostile perspective. Only when we properly handle the relationship between social coherence and diversity can the united front achieve a state of seeking common ground while reserving differences, in harmony with differences, and then continuously enhancing the cohesion, affinity, influence and vitality of the united front. At the Central United Front Work Conference held in July 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "carry forward the fine tradition of unity-criticism-unity, seek consistency in respecting diversity, find the greatest common divisor, and draw the greatest concentric circles." This important exposition is actually the ideological method of united front work.

Only by strengthening the leadership of the party can we make good use of the magic weapon of the united front. The party's leadership of the united front is an important experience in the history of the united front. The united front is a magic weapon, but whether it can be mastered and used well depends on the leadership level of our party. Mao Zedong once vividly pointed out that the united front and armed struggle are the two basic weapons for defeating the enemy. The party organization (leader) is the heroic warrior who masters these two weapons. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the issue of party leadership, we emphasized the party's leadership over the united front, because if we do not fight for leadership in the fierce, sharp and complex political struggle, we will lose independence, autonomy, and even give The cause of the party has caused heavy losses. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the issue of strengthening the party's leadership, it must be more reflected in the improvement of the party's leadership, and the continuous improvement of the party's leadership ability and level. The concrete manifestation is to know the laws of the united front, master the methods of the united front, be rich in the art of united front, and have the courage to open up. Innovation, based on social reality, continuous investigation and research, to discover new situations and resolve new problems. Strengthening the party's leadership over the united front is inseparable from the issue of struggle. The united front does not mean blindly accommodating, compromising, and making concessions. Struggle is unavoidable in the united front, but when to fight, how to fight, and to what extent, it must be based on scientific rationality and adopt correct policies and strategies. . Strengthening the party's leadership over the united front depends not only on the leadership of the leadership, but also on the implementation of the majority of united front cadres. In the process of China's revolution and construction, the reason why the united front can play an irreplaceable magic weapon role, especially when our party is in danger, is that our party attaches great importance to the work of the united front and dispatches a large number of high-quality , The cadres with strong ability and understanding of the United Front go deep into all aspects of the United Front work. As Deng Xiaoping said: "Some of our comrades in the army regard victory only as the barrel of a gun, which is not comprehensive. From a historical point of view, the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao have always attached great importance to the united front work and have done it very carefully. Our victory, on the one hand, was achieved by the barrel of a gun, and on the other hand, it was inseparable from the United Front work." (author Yang Yuejin, former editor-in-chief of "China United Front")