Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XII, Afghanistan

174. Intelligence Information Cable Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency¹

[cable number not declassified]

Washington, January 18, 1980

COUNTRY

• China Afghanistan/USSR

SUBJECT

• Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bulletin No. 9 of 1980, Providing Analysis and Guidance on the Afghanistan Situation [less than 1 line not declassified]

SOURCE

• [1 line not declassified]

1. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Bulletin No. 9 of 1980, issued on 14 January, contained analysis of the Afghanistan situation and provided Chinese Missions abroad with guidance. The MFA Bulletin summed up major recent developments and presented the following analysis:

A. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was due partially, but significantly, to hegemonistic expansionism. The year 1979 began with the Soviet invasion by proxy of Kampuchea and ended with the direct Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

B. The invasion of Afghanistan revealed on a grand scale the mad adventurism of the Soviet Union. This move again proved that the Soviet Union would be the origin of world war and remained the primary threat to world peace.

C. The Soviet action revealed Moscow’s claimed opposition to hegemonism to be false, and it proved the Soviets to be liars. It further proved the illusion of signing friendship treaties with the Soviet Union.

D. The Soviet invasion indicated the serious escalation of Soviet expansionism to a new stage outside the Socialist bloc and into the Third World. The move also represented an escalation from the use of Cuba and other proxies to the direct involvement of Soviet forces in military aggression.

E. Increased vigilance and unity were required on the part of other nations in the world community. These nations should be encouraged to be unafraid of the Soviets.

2. The MFA Bulletin provided the following guidelines to Chinese Missions on the Afghanistan situation:

A. In propaganda, there should be a minimum of comment on the new Afghan Government. Stress should be placed on support of the Afghan people in their struggle against Soviet invaders. The new government in Kabul should not yet be referred to as a Soviet puppet regime.

B. Work among host governments would vary from country to country.

(1) In Western Europe, it should be pointed out that faith can no longer be placed in détente. Substantive work and measures would be required to defeat Soviet moves toward war. Western Europe required better relations with the Third World.

(2) In the Third World and among nonaligned nations, governments should be alerted to the potential for situations in which they face “the tiger at the front door and the wolf at the back door.” In other words, vigilance was required against a direct Soviet invasion, as well as Soviet invasions by proxy using countries such as Cuba and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

C. The world would also have to be alerted to the possibility of a Soviet peace offensive following consolidation of Afghanistan. Moscow had done this in the past to assuage ill will and lower the guard of the world.

3. ACQ: [1 line not declassified]

4. [less than 1 line not declassified] Dissem: [2 lines not declassified] (ConGen, DPO and Political Counselor only).

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Office of Soviet and East European Analysis, Program Files for Soviet-Asian Relations, 1960–1981, Lot 90D328, Sino-Soviet (1980). Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].