What did the declassified documents reveal?

Communist Chinese attempts to obtain maps and related information – a Central Intelligence Agency intelligence summary dated February nineteen seventy‑one, declassified and released through the FOIA. This document is notable because it details a systematic foreign‑map collection effort by the People’s Republic of China during the early 1970s, revealing the range of geographic data the Chinese sought from the United States, the Soviet Union and other regions. The record was made public through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Central Intelligence Agency. The request was processed under FOIA case number not disclosed, and the material was released on September ninth, two thousand ten. The declassification authority noted an “Approved for Release” stamp dated March two thousand one, indicating the material had been cleared for public dissemination at that time. The source is archived at the Black Vault, a public repository for declassified government documents. The document begins with a header indicating its origin in the Office of Scientific Intelligence and the Foreign Missile and Space Analysis Center, coordinated with the Directorate of Intelligence. It then presents a summary and conclusions: “For the past two years the Chinese have been conducting a partially successful, accelerated collection program for foreign maps and related geodetic information. Their main areas of interest have been the USSR and the United States and its possessions, although some orders also have included maps of East, South, and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Norway, Western Europe, Africa, and several Pacific Ocean islands. Since the reporting of acquisitions by the Chinese is undoubtedly incomplete, it is difficult to determine the extent of their map holdings and existing gaps. They could have acquired maps of virtually all of the United States and Canada from open sources. This would not preclude further attempted acquisitions of more accurate, up‑to‑date maps of these countries, including those containing geodetic, gravity, or other special information. The Chinese apparently have not succeeded in obtaining detailed maps of the areas near their southern border, especially of Laos, Thailand, Burma, and India, but they could make their own for some limited areas to which they have access. The Chinese have obtained small‑scale maps of the USSR but still lack more detailed, large‑scale maps and geodetic data for that country. The small‑scale maps are generally of poor quality but could be useful as basic references for intelligence analysis, cartography, general planning for military operations, and possibly photointerpretation. They would not contain the detail necessary for artillery and missile targeting. Good‑quality large‑scale maps of the western USSR and World Air Operational Navigation Charts (one to one million) for the entire country are available in many places, but it is not known if the Chinese have acquired these maps. Their willingness…

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.

Case File · ARCHIVE-741Declassified

Filed AUG 6 · 2026Runtime 3 min

CIA Communist Chinese Attempts To Obtain Maps And Related Information – A Central

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated August 6, 2026

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Date: AUG 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Communist Chinese attempts to obtain maps and related information – a Central Intelligence Agency intelligence summary dated February nineteen seventy‑one, declassified and released through the FOIA. This document is notable because it details a systematic foreign‑map collection effort by the…

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Questions about this case

What was CIA Communist Chinese Attempts To Obtain Maps And Related Information – A Central about?: Communist Chinese attempts to obtain maps and related information – a Central Intelligence Agency intelligence summary dated February nineteen seventy‑one, declassified and released through the FOIA.
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 Communist Chinese Attempts To Obtain Maps And Related Information – A Central

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