What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we present a declassified C-I-A record detailing Chinese views on peace negotiations during the Korean War. This memorandum, dated July twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-one, offers insight into internal divisions within the Chinese Communist government regarding the war's continuation. This document is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency under declassification authority N-U-E two thousand six dash thirty-one, with deletions, and made public via The Black Vault archive. The document, a SECRET memorandum from General Ennis to General Bolling, reads: "Your interpretation of the following would be appreciated: 'On July twenty-sixth, nineteen-fifty-one, the following information was received from a [one line redacted] confidential informant: On July twenty-third, nineteen-fifty-one, Siao Ke, Chinese, Chief of the Secret Service, Chinese Communist government arrived in Pyongyang and met with Peng Te-huai, Chinese, Commanding General, Chinese Communist Forces in Korea and Kim Il Sung, Korean, Commanding General, North Korean forces. At this meeting, Siao said the following: 'World war three will start when the peace treaty negotiations are started with Japan on September four, nineteen-fifty-one. Because of this, there is no need to back down or be weak in our talks at Kaesong!'" The document continues with a "Comment" section: "This report is quite similar to another furnished by [one line redacted] and published as item one, a, three, in Watch Report Number nine, July sixteenth, nineteen-fifty-one. This cited report follows: 'On July eleventh, nineteen-fifty-one, Siao Ke sent the following message to Peng Te-huai: 'According to Vice President Liu Shao Chi, we are ordered to prepare for the third world war which will start in the near future. The U-S is using the cease-fire talks to stall for time to prepare her industries for the coming war. During the cease-fire talks, we must not yield one point to the U-S. If we do, it may hinder us in the coming third world war.'' In both reports, Siao Ke, or Sio Ka, Chief of Secret Bureau of C-C-G, informs Peng Te-huai that world war three is imminent and that the Communist 'cease-fire' delegation should not 'yield one point to the U-S' or 'back down or be weak in the talks at Kaesong.' It may be most significant that after each of the above instances, and in opposition to Siao's advice, the Communists did make concessions, first, in agreeing to U-N demands of July thirteenth, and second, in acceding to the U-N position that the subject of the withdrawal of non-Korean troops should not be included on the armistice agenda." The document further states: "Several recent reports are significant in interpreting the above. Numerous reports from [one line redacted] have revealed a basic clash between Lin and Mao over both foreign and domestic policies. One report alleged that Liu is even plotting to seize control of the…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

CIA Today, We Present A Declassified C I A Record Detailing Chinese Views On Peace

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This is Declassified. Today, we present a declassified C-I-A record detailing Chinese views on peace negotiations during the Korean War. This memorandum, dated July twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-one, offers insight into internal divisions within the Chinese Communist government regarding the war's continuation.

Date: OCT 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Today, We Present A Declassified C I A Record Detailing Chinese Views On Peace about?: This is Declassified. Today, we present a declassified C-I-A record detailing Chinese views on peace negotiations during the Korean War. This memorandum, dated July twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-one, offers insight into internal divisions within the Chinese Communist government regarding the war's continuation.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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CIA Today, We Present A Declassified C I A Record Detailing Chinese Views On Peace

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