What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today, a declassified C.I.A. record concerning small-scale operations against Mainland China, dated May nineteenth, nineteen sixty-four. This document details ongoing, albeit unsuccessful, C.I.A. missions and an incident involving Chinese Communist forces firing on an offshore island. This record is available via documents two dot the black vault dot com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and declassified on July fourteenth, two thousand nineteen, by the National Archives and Records Administration, A.A.R.O. Its declassification authority is Executive Order one three five two six. It stands as an example of the public record concerning Cold War intelligence operations. The document is an Incoming Telegram from the Department of State, marked Secret, and dated May nineteenth, nineteen sixty-four, at five P.M. It is addressed to the Secretary of State, Washington D.C., with information copies to other agencies, including the Commander in Chief, Pacific. The subject is "Indications for Period: April twenty-third to May nineteenth." It states: "Small-scale C.I.A. operations against Mainland have continued but without success due to interception by teams of Chiccom gunboats. Planning may undergo some reexamination as result. G.R.C. raid on May sixteenth against Lien-Chiang, Fukien, started series of events which led to first Chiccom return fire against offshore island since August sixty-two. G.R.C. artillery on Matsu fired H.E. in support of G.R.C. raiding team seeking escape for beach after discovery. Fire directed at Chiccom patrol boats blocking escape route. Some rounds may have gone over onto beach. Chiccom return fire against Matsu, delayed two to three hours, probably in specific retaliation for G.R.C. firing and not evidence of any change in Chiccom policy either toward offshore island firing or this type." The document is marked Secret, No Foreign Dissemination, No Dissemination Abroad. The Black Vault notes that this document provides a window into the continuous, low-level military and intelligence activities that characterized the Cold War era in East Asia. It illustrates the challenges faced by intelligence agencies in conducting covert operations and the immediate reactions of opposing forces, even in incidents not escalating to full conflict. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find this document and more at storyflo dot com and archive dot org slash download slash U S China Intel C I Zero one six one three.

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, A Declassified CIA

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Declassified. A. record concerning small-scale operations against Mainland China, dated May nineteenth, nineteen sixty-four. A. missions and an incident involving Chinese Communist forces firing on an offshore island. This record is available via documents two dot the black vault dot com.

Date: SEP 4 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Declassified. Today, a declassified C.I.A. record concerning small-scale operations against Mainland China, dated May nineteenth, nineteen sixty-four. This document details ongoing, albeit unsuccessful, C.I.A. missions and an incident involving Chinese Communist forces firing on an offshore island…

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What was Today, A Declassified CIA about?: Declassified. A. record concerning small-scale operations against Mainland China, dated May nineteenth, nineteen sixty-four. A. missions and an incident involving Chinese Communist forces firing on an offshore island. This record is available via documents two dot the black vault dot com.
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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