What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency intelligence report titled “Mao’s “Cultural Revolution” in 1967: The Struggle to “Seize Power.” The report was originally dated twenty‑four May 1968 and offers a contemporary U.S. analysis of the internal dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party during a pivotal year of the Cultural Revolution. It is notable for its detailed description of the shifting strategies of Mao Zedong and the resulting political and military tensions. PROVENANCE The document was released to the public in May 2007 under Executive Order twelve‑nine‑five‑eight, which governs the declassification of classified national security information. It was made available through The Black Vault archive, which hosts the full text as a scanned document. No specific Freedom of Information Act case number is cited; the release was authorized by the Director of Central Intelligence. THE DOCUMENT Approved for release date: May 2007. Report number: RSS 0028/68. Date of original issuance: twenty‑four May 1968. This intelligence report develops in broad outline the course of the “Cultural Revolution” in Communist China during the year nineteen‑sixty‑seven. It is written from the point of view that Mao either initiated or approved policies which shifted the direction and intensity of the “Cultural Revolution” during that year, and that he ordered the sharp reversal of policy from revolutionary action to moderation, thereby engendering a high level of economic disorder and violence in August. The report argues that Mao was not forced by a “moderate” faction to reverse his revolutionary policy, nor did the period of moderation that followed his August decisions mean that the “Cultural Revolution” was over; rather, it was a pause, a temporary shift in emphasis from revolution from below to revolution from above. Nevertheless, the net effects of events in nineteen‑sixty‑seven were to diminish Mao’s power to control developments and to create major, probably long‑term, political, social and administrative dislocations. The report notes that in January nineteen‑sixty‑seven, China’s “great proletarian cultural revolution” entered a new stage—a stage of violent overthrow of all those in positions of authority in the Party and government who refused to accept Mao Zedong’s new “revolutionary” order. As originally envisaged by Mao, this revolutionary act of “seizure of power from below” was to result in a new power structure dominated by his “revolutionary leftist” supporters and modeled after the Paris Commune. The report characterizes the “January Revolution” in Shanghai as a frenzied drive to “seize power” that initiated nation‑wide violence and disorder, prompting three immediate countermeasures: First, on twenty‑three January, the People’s Liberation Army was ordered to intervene in the “Cultural Revolution” to support the out‑numbered and disorganized forces of the “revolutionary left.” Second, policy shifted toward party cadres…

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 “mao’s “cultural Revolution” In 1967

◆ BLUF — The short version

S. analysis of the internal dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party during a pivotal year of the Cultural Revolution. It is notable for its detailed description of the shifting strategies of Mao Zedong and the resulting political and military tensions.

Date: AUG 8 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

COLD OPEN This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency intelligence report titled “Mao’s “Cultural Revolution” in 1967: The Struggle to “Seize Power.” The report was originally dated twenty‑four May 1968 and offers a contemporary U.S. analysis of the internal dynamics of the Chinese Communist…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA “mao’s “cultural Revolution” In 1967 about?: S. analysis of the internal dynamics of the Chinese Communist Party during a pivotal year of the Cultural Revolution. It is notable for its detailed description of the shifting strategies of Mao Zedong and the resulting political and military tensions.
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 “mao’s “cultural Revolution” In 1967

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