What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN: A 1969 State Department cable reveals a secret Chinese plan to test intercontinental ballistic missiles over the Indian Ocean, with the Indian government allegedly informed of the intentions. This declassified CIA record, 'Chinese ICBM Tests', was released to the public through The Black Vault. The document is a cable, dated September 4, 1969, and is one page in length. PROVENANCE: This document was released through a Freedom of Information Act request and is available on The Black Vault's website. The canonical PDF can be found at https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01932/CI01932djvu.txt. THE DOCUMENT: Qeg VR-/ Chelon. ie mg ALES OUTGOING TELEGRAM Department of State Fakes Classification / gb 3 oun | ACTION: — AmEmbassy NEW DELHI ° HSer 63 cl dae oo oe SUBJECT: Chinese ICBM Tests Re] 1. CBS Correspondent Marvin Kalb (protect) has informed Department of recent conversation with Indian Ambassador Jung. According Kalb, Jung stated LCD categorically that the Chinese Communists had informed the Indian Government ~ that when Peking was ready to test ICBMs, they would conduct the tests over the Indian Ocean into the Indian Ocean. Jung did not indicate when the Chinese made their announcement to the Indians. 2. Appreciate any information which MEA China watchers or other Indian officials can provide on this subject. 3. FYI. Although the Indian Ocean is a logical impact area for Chinese ICBM test, this is the first report we have seen that Peking has expressed intention to test in that or any other direction. While the Chinese appear capable of making such a test within the next year or so, we do not believe the test is imminent. CONTEXT: The document's content is a report of a conversation between Indian Ambassador Jung and CBS Correspondent Marvin Kalb, as relayed to the Department of State. The report's authenticity and context are not provided in this document. OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The Chinese ICBM tests, as reported in this 1969 State Department cable, remain a matter of historical record. Find the full declassified document at https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01932/CI01932djvu.txt.

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 1969 State Department Cable Reveals A Secret Chinese Plan To Test

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN: A 1969 State Department cable reveals a secret Chinese plan to test intercontinental ballistic missiles over the Indian Ocean, with the Indian government allegedly informed of the intentions. This declassified CIA record, 'Chinese ICBM Tests', was released to the public through The Black Vault.

Date: AUG 7 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play3:06

0:003:06

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA 1969 State Department Cable Reveals A Secret Chinese Plan To Test about?: COLD OPEN: A 1969 State Department cable reveals a secret Chinese plan to test intercontinental ballistic missiles over the Indian Ocean, with the Indian government allegedly informed of the intentions. This declassified CIA record, 'Chinese ICBM Tests', was released to the public through The Black Vault.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

CIA 1969 State Department Cable Reveals A Secret Chinese Plan To Test

Questions about this case

Related cases

Office Of Naval Intelligence: Department Of The Navy Memorandum From The Office Of The Chief

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Taiwan Straits, Issued

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Concerning Chinese Military

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Bulletin Concerning The Chinese

Questions about this case

Related cases

Office Of Naval Intelligence: Department Of The Navy Memorandum From The Office Of The Chief

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Taiwan Straits, Issued

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Concerning Chinese Military

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Bulletin Concerning The Chinese

Get the next declassified case in your inbox