What did the declassified documents reveal?

This episode of Declassified presents a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated December fourteenth, nineteen-sixty-four. This document details "Peiping's Views on 'Revolutionary War'," and offers insight into Chinese Communist foreign policy during the Cold War. It is available on The Black Vault at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency in August, two-thousand-five, under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The declassification authority for this record is the A-A-R-O, or Assassination Records Review Board. It is presented here as part of the public record. The document begins: Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Summary Peiping has persistently emphasized that its encouragement and support of "revolutionary" wars was not only an essential element in true Communist policy, but also a method of breaking through the U-S policy of containment and most specifically of securing U-S withdrawal from Taiwan. Thus the Chinese Communists have tried to bring "revolutionary" pressures to bear against U-S interests throughout the world. Peiping apparently believes it can continue this pressure without provoking a major U-S attack on the mainland. Even such an attack, in the Chinese view, could not destroy Peiping's ability to resist occupation. In Mao's doctrine, tactical caution is wedded to strategic disdain of a superior enemy, raising the degree of risk Peiping is willing to take in confrontations with the U-S. In asserting their intention to preserve North Vietnam, however, the Chinese leaders have been indefinite as to the precise character and time of their action. No Foreign Dissem. Peiping's Views on "Revolutionary War" This paper attempts to give a perspective for gauging Chinese and Vietnamese action in the Vietnam situation. Our perspective is formed largely by the past attitudes and actions of the two Communist powers, and we believe that certain persisting attitudes will lead to much the same actions. In this connection, we believe that their dedication to the doctrine of revolutionary violence is real and not just verbal, and it is primarily this matter which is discussed here. One: The Basic Chinese Communist Attitude The Chinese Communist effort to break through the American policy of military and political containment is as much a strategy for revolutionary war as it is a policy for handling foreign relations. That is, it apparently is conceived in terms of combating the enemy rather than in adjusting relations with him by negotiations; revolutionary wars against him are encouraged and supported, and any compromise or concession is viewed as surrender. It is here that the doctrinal component in Chinese Communist thinking significantly influences the nationalistic component in their view of strategy, adding to the morbid hostility. And this hostility distinguishes a Chinese Communist attitude toward the U-S from a traditional Chinese attitude. 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 This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Declassified Central Intelligence

◆ BLUF — The short version

This episode of Declassified presents a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated December fourteenth, nineteen-sixty-four. This document details "Peiping's Views on 'Revolutionary War'," and offers insight into Chinese Communist foreign policy during the Cold War. com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency in August, two-thousand-five, under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Date: AUG 31 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Declassified Central Intelligence about?: This episode of Declassified presents a declassified Central Intelligence Agency memorandum, dated December fourteenth, nineteen-sixty-four. This document details "Peiping's Views on 'Revolutionary War'," and offers insight into Chinese Communist foreign policy during the Cold War. com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency in August, two-thousand-five, under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
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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