Li Zhisui, Mao's physician, suggested that Mao had initially seen the policy as a way of weakening opposition to him within the party and that he was surprised by the extent of criticism and the fact that it came to be directed at his own leadership.
Li Zhisui, der var Maos læge, foreslog at Mao til at begynde med havde set denne politik som en måde at svække oppositionen mod ham i partiet, og han blev overrasket over omfanget af kritikken, og det faktum at det blev rettet mod hans eget ledetskab.