What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a Central Intelligence Bulletin from February third, nineteen-fifty-nine. This document provides intelligence on China's sale of bomber aircraft to Indonesia, along with other geopolitical intelligence. It can be found at archive.org. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency under a Freedom of Information Act request, declassified in July two-thousand by the agency's internal review. This release is part of a larger collection of documents related to United States intelligence on China. The bulletin opens with a daily brief. "Communist bloc - Indonesia: Four Chinese Communist twin-engine T U-two light bombers apparently are being transferred to Indonesia as part of the nineteen-fifty-eight bloc-Indonesian arms deals. The piston bombers, accompanied by an I L-fourteen transport, arrived at Rangoon, Burma, on two February. The bloc also is providing Indonesia with twenty to thirty I L-twenty-eight twin-jet light bombers, fifty-three M I G-seventeen jet fighters and substantial quantities of other types of aircraft under arms arrangements totaling one hundred seventy million dollars. [three lines redacted under exemption B one]" The document continues under the heading "Chinese Communist Participation in Indonesian Arms Deals." "Four Chinese Communist twin-engine T U-two light bombers, accompanied by an Indonesian I L-fourteen transport, arrived at Rangoon from Kunming on two February, apparently en route to Indonesia. The bombers, formerly subordinate to the Chinese Communist twenty-third Air Division, presumably are being transferred to Indonesia under its nineteen-fifty-eight arms agreement with Czechoslovakia. Under similar arrangements with Peiping, Czechoslovakia also is providing Indonesia with I L-ten ground-attack bombers and possibly other aircraft from Communist China as well. Peiping also is participating in the Polish-Indonesian one hundred seventy million dollar arms deal. This agreement calls for the delivery of naval vessels, including destroyers, submarines, and subchasers. The first four of eight subchasers which were supplied to Indonesia are believed to have been delivered from a Chinese Communist port, presumably under arrangements similar to those by which the Chinese Communist aircraft are being supplied to Diakarta. [two lines redacted under exemption B one]" Under the heading "Negotiations with U S S R Worry Baghdad Pact Allies," the bulletin states: "Turkey, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, deeply concerned over Iranian-Soviet negotiation of a nonaggression treaty, are urging that every feasible step be taken to save Iran and the Baghdad Pact. Turkey and Pakistan believe conclusion of such a treaty would reduce the Baghdad Pact to worthlessness. They emphasize that pact members would no longer have any confidence in military planning with Iran. Moscow's awareness of the political impact of a Soviet nonaggression…

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.

Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Central

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a Central Intelligence Bulletin from February third, nineteen-fifty-nine. This document provides intelligence on China's sale of bomber aircraft to Indonesia, along with other geopolitical intelligence. org.

Date: SEP 20 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Central about?: This is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a Central Intelligence Bulletin from February third, nineteen-fifty-nine. This document provides intelligence on China's sale of bomber aircraft to Indonesia, along with other geopolitical intelligence. org.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Central

Questions about this case

Related cases

Department Of The Army Staff Communication Dated September Fifteen, Nineteen

CIA Declassified Presents A Current Intelligence Weekly Review From November Sixth

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum, Dated November Sixth

CIA Chicom Requirements For Talent Coverage

FBI From "declassified", A Storyflo Podcast.

Questions about this case

Related cases

Department Of The Army Staff Communication Dated September Fifteen, Nineteen

CIA Declassified Presents A Current Intelligence Weekly Review From November Sixth

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum, Dated November Sixth

CIA Chicom Requirements For Talent Coverage

FBI From "declassified", A Storyflo Podcast.

Get the next declassified case in your inbox