On February 27, 1957, Mao Zedong spoke to the Supreme State Conference on the correct handling of contradictions among the people. The text was revised and published on June 19, 1957. It says that such contradictions can be resolved “only by the method of discussion, the method of criticism, the method of persuasion and education, and not by the methods of coercion and repression.”
The rule covers contradictions among the people. The same speech treats contradictions with the enemy differently.