What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated November twenty-fifth, nineteen-sixty, concerning Chinese Communist nuclear weapons activities. It is notable for its assessment of China's nuclear program and its capabilities at the time. This document is part of the public record accessible via documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act as part of a larger collection of United States intelligence records on China. The declassification authority and specific case number are not publicly noted in the archive entry for this particular single page. The document, an Optional Form number ten, is a United States Government Memorandum addressed to Mr. John A. Armitage, from Charles C. Flowerree of INR:RSB, dated November twenty-fifth, nineteen-sixty. The subject is "Warsaw Report on ChiCom Nuclear Weapons Activities." In reference to Warsaw's seven hundred ninety-one of November twenty-first, the following information could be conveyed to appropriate foreign diplomatic personnel in Warsaw: "It is true that the Chinese Communists have built three atomic reactors. One of these, which has a power output of seven to ten M-W, was supplied by the Soviets. There are two other known Chinese reactors of two M-W capacity each and the existence of a third two M-W reactor is suspected. All of these reactors are designed for research. They could be converted to the production of plutonium but their combined output, even over a long period, would be insufficient to support even an experimental weapons program. If the Chinese are embarking on a nuclear weapons development program, they will not use any of the reactors known to have been built for peaceful purposes, but will construct special facilities for the production of fissionable materials." The document continues: "For your information, the intelligence community has recently re-examined available evidence on Chinese progress toward a nuclear capability and has reaffirmed its estimate that nineteen-sixty-three is the most likely date for the completion of a first Chinese nuclear device. This estimate is, of course, affected by a number of factors which cannot now be predicted. The most important of these is the scale and pace of Soviet assistance to the Chinese in the atomic energy field. This assistance has been considerable in the past, but there is good reason to believe that the current political dissensions have caused a severe cut back in Soviet aid which could stall the Chinese nuclear weapons program for some time. There is little doubt, however, that the Chinese have attained a competence in atomic energy which would enable them eventually to produce a weapon of their own, even with no further Soviet assistance." Regarding an alleged atomic explosion in the Gobi desert region, the memorandum states: "to date intelligence has received no evidence which would lead to the conclusion that an atomic explosion has occurred anywhere in…

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.

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum, Dated November Twenty Fifth

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated November twenty-fifth, nineteen-sixty, concerning Chinese Communist nuclear weapons activities. It is notable for its assessment of China's nuclear program and its capabilities at the time. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act as part of a larger collection of United States intelligence records on China.

Date: SEP 17 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum, Dated November Twenty Fifth about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated November twenty-fifth, nineteen-sixty, concerning Chinese Communist nuclear weapons activities. It is notable for its assessment of China's nuclear program and its capabilities at the time. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act as part of a larger collection of United States intelligence records on China.
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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Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum, Dated November Twenty Fifth

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