What did the declassified documents reveal?

This episode of Declassified presents a Central Intelligence Agency intelligence summary titled "The Chinese Communists in Laos: A Summary." Issued on December seventeenth, nineteen-sixty-four, this top-secret document details perceived Chinese Communist activities and influence in Laos. The full record is available from vault.fbi.gov. This document was approved for release on December twenty-second, two-thousand-four, under the authority of the Freedom of Information Act. It provides a snapshot of U.S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Cold War in Southeast Asia. The document opens: "National Indications Center, Room One E eight hundred twenty-one, Pentagon. December seventeenth, nineteen-sixty-four. The Chinese Communists in Laos: A Summary. Past Activities: One. Since the Kong Le coup in nineteen-sixty, the Chinese Communists have been carving out a sphere of influence in Laos’ two northwestern provinces adjacent to the Chinese border — Phong Saly and Nam Tha Provinces. Under an agreement with the Souvanna government, they constructed a road from Meng La, China, to the town of Phong Saly, about sixty miles, between nineteen-sixty-one and nineteen-sixty-three. On completion of the road in May nineteen-sixty-three, the Chinese announced their withdrawal from Phong Saly and the road workers probably did leave for the most part. Several thousand laborers are reported to have been engaged in this construction under supervision of the P-L-A. [four lines redacted under exemption B1] has reported that the P-L-A engineer units involved in this work were the engineer battalion of the fortieth Division and an approximate battalion size unit of engineer troops from the Kunming Military Region headquarters. Two. The Chinese maintain a consulate at Phong Saly, reportedly guarded by a small contingent of troops. They have supplied and trained the troops of General Khamevane, who was formerly nominally allied with Kong Le and Souvanna Phouma. Within the past year, however, Khamevane has gone over completely to the Communists and is now a 'true neutralist' allied with the forces of Colonel Devane. Three. In Nam Tha Province, the Chinese Communists probably participated in the attacks at Muong Sing and Nam Tha in May nineteen-sixty-two, although this has never been confirmed. There have since been numerous reports that the Chinese maintain a small number of troops and a logistic base in the Muong Sing area. The U.S. Army, Laos, carries one company of Chinese Communist troops in the Muong Sing area. Four. There have been numerous reports of road construction in Nam Tha Province, or plans for road construction, by the Chinese Communists. Particularly mentioned have been roads from Meng Lo to Nam Tha, Meng Lo to Muong Sing, and Muong Sing to Nam Tha. Photography of late nineteen-sixty-three, however, showed that no new construction had extended beyond the Chinese border; the Meng Lo-Muong Sing road had been constructed only as far as Meng…

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 The Chinese Communists In Laos: A Summary.

◆ BLUF — The short version

" Issued on December seventeenth, nineteen-sixty-four, this top-secret document details perceived Chinese Communist activities and influence in Laos. gov. This document was approved for release on December twenty-second, two-thousand-four, under the authority of the Freedom of Information Act. S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Cold War in Southeast Asia.

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

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This episode of Declassified presents a Central Intelligence Agency intelligence summary titled "The Chinese Communists in Laos: A Summary." Issued on December seventeenth, nineteen-sixty-four, this top-secret document details perceived Chinese Communist activities and influence in Laos. The full…

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Questions about this case

What was CIA The Chinese Communists In Laos: A Summary. about?: " Issued on December seventeenth, nineteen-sixty-four, this top-secret document details perceived Chinese Communist activities and influence in Laos. gov. This document was approved for release on December twenty-second, two-thousand-four, under the authority of the Freedom of Information Act. S. intelligence assessments during a critical period of the Cold War in Southeast Asia.
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 The Chinese Communists In Laos: A Summary.

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