Strengthen the Construction of the Strategic Vast Rear Areas

The Party Central Committee with the leadership of Mao Zedong, took a major strategic initiative to strengthen the construction of the strategic hinterland or rear of the country in response to large-scale foreign invasion and to meet national defense and military needs.

The strategic rear mainly referred to the general rear of the country, but also included the rear of the strategic zone. It was not only a geographical concept, but also includes the political, military, economic, scientific and cultural organization of the rear and the ability to support the war.

Since the mid-1960s, as the situation around China gradually deteriorated, Mao Zedong proposed that in order to implement the policy of active defense, it was necessary to pay attention to strengthening the construction of the strategic rear and to carry out the construction of the "third front".

In May 1964, Mao Zedong, proposed to divide the country into the first, second and third fronts and strengthen the construction of the third front as a national strategic base, after listening to the report of the State Planning Commission. In August of the same year, Mao Zedong proposed again at a meeting of the Central Secretariat to build a greater third front, and at the same time asked each province and region to build a small third front.

"Three Front" had two meanings: first, the large third front, mainly refers to the southwest and northwest; second, the smaller third front, mainly refers to the hinterland of the first front (i.e., coastal areas) and the second front (mainly refers to the central region).

The third front construction was to take the national defense industry as the center, the establishment of rear industrial bases, the construction of the country to consolidate the strategic rear, in order to enhance the ability to deal with foreign enemies to launch a large-scale war of aggression, so as to be prepared for any problems.

Mao Zedong pointed out: “Grasping the construction of the third front, we have iron and steel, national defense, machinery, chemical, oil, railroad bases are up, then the fight will not be afraid.” “All provinces should pay attention to the construction of the third front." “Imagine if there is a situation like the Japanese occupation, everywhere is occupied, you can not do anything without a solution. Ordinance and weapons are not only difficult to transport, but also insufficient in quantity.” "We must strive to build up the rear quickly. In three or Five-Years, we must get this done and get the third front.” “It will be no waste in case of the rear is built and the enemy does not attack.”

Carrying out the third front construction was to solve a long-term strategic problem. From 1965 to 1980, the construction of the third line in 13 provinces and autonomous regions made significant achievements: it initially changed the situation of the weak basic industries, backward transportation and low level of resource development in the interior of China; it initially established a strategic rear and modern industrial transportation system with a considerable scale, complete categories, combined scientific research and production; it promoted the economic prosperity and scientific and cultural progress of the interior provinces and regions, and brought development opportunities to the construction of the interior. It initially changed the unreasonable situation of China's industrial layout and made the necessary preparations to resist the imperialist threat of war, which had far-reaching significance.