THE INTERNAL SITUATION IN CHINA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03006502
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 28, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-01277
• Publication Date: January 31, 1972

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Release:
2018/08/29
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Release:
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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
(b)(3)
Intelligence Memorandum
The Internal Situation in China
"Secret_
1
31 January 1972
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WARNING
This document contains classified information affecting the national security
ot the United States within the meaning of the espionage laws. l.!S Code
Title Is, Sections 793, 79-1, and 79.
011(11:1.
PAO It OFI A,' I OMATIC
Ip(I, ANI,
Lit II.AM,Ip(At
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(b)(3)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
31 January 1972
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Internal Situation in China
Introduction
Less than six months ago Peking was rocked by
a dramatic leadership upheaval which resulted in
the purge of Lin Piao, the Minister of Defense and
anointed successor to Mao Tse-tung, and at least
four other major military leaders. This action has
left Mao and Chou En-lai the dominant figures in
China, running the country at the head of an ex-
tremely small elite team. While it is clear that
many serious problems remain to be solved and cer-
tain difficulties are being encountered behind the
scenes as solutions are sought, the general out-
ward appearance is one of tranquility.
Even while the leadership struggle was being
played out during the fall al:. last year, there
were no discernible repercussions on China's in-
ternal stability. National and local administra-
tion proceeded with relatively little disruption.
The economy continued to advance at a steady pace,
with strong gains registered in industrial produc-
tion and with agricultural production holding its
own in the face of continued populaj.on growth.
In the foreign field, serious problems were met
and handled adroitly, with no pause in the smooth
running of the foreign-policy machinery.
s
Of the problems that Mao and Chou now face,
the need to decide on new leaders to fill the many
vacant positions on the politburo and in the army
�
Note: This memorandum was prepared by the Office
of Current Intelligence and was coordinated with
the Office of National Estimates.
(b)(3)
---SE-GREZ
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command is probably the most important. The ques-
tion of personnel selection, and thus of power con-
figuration, has bedeviled the Peking leadership for
the past six years, since the beginning of the
Cultural Revolution, and there are clear indications
that it remains a central, and unsolved, problem.
Beyond that, the question of organizational control,
of the relative weight to be played by the military
and the party in running the country, has not yet
been sorted out. In the aftermath of the recent
purge, however, an effort is clearly being made to
reduce the political power which the military ac-
quired during the Cultural Revolution.
-2-
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CHINESE COMMUNIST POLITBURO
(Elected April 1969)
STANDING COMMITTEE
� Mao Te-tung (78)
Chairman, Central Committee
� Lin Piao (64)
entral Corn-
; 'efens er
� Chou En-lai (73)
Premier
� Ch'en Po-ta (66)
OUp
� K'ang Sheng (72)
C
faciattrt; "rn
Revolu-
evolution
curity Chiq
PROVINCIAL LEADERS
WIVES
� Chiang Ch'ing (56)
Wife of Mao; First Deputy Head,
Cultural Revolution Group
� Yeh Ch'un (44)
criglitary Affairs
tee
� Chi Teng-k'uei (40)"
Vice Chairman, Honan Provincial
Revolutionary Committee
� Ch'en Hsi-lien (60)
Commander, Shen-yang Military
Region; Chairman, Liaoning Provincial
Revolutionary Committee
4 Li Hsueh-feng (64)*
ion
rovincial
mittee
� Chang Ch'un-ch'iao (59)
Chairman, Shanghai Municipal
Revolutionary Committee; Second
Deputy Head, Cultural Revolution
Group
� Li Te-sheng (61)*
Commander, Anhwei Military
District; Chairman, Anhwei Provincial
Revolutionary Committee
� Hsu Shih-yu (64)
Vice Minister of Defense; Commander,
iijjarRion; Chairman,
evolutionary
ommittee
� Yao Wen-yuan (36)
Vice Chairman, Shanghai Municipal
Revolutionary Committee; Member,
Cultural Revolution Group
MILITARY LEADERS
� Huang Yung-sheng (62
itary Af-
� Ch'iu Hui-tso (56)
i�C
fairs Committee
� Li Tso-p'eng (60)
uty Chief of ; Po-
litica r, Navy;
ary Affairs o ittee
taff; Army
ry Af-
� Wu Fa-hsien (7.i8)
uty Chief o ; Corn-
rce; Military
airs Committee
� Yeh Chien-ying (72)
Vice Chairman, Military Af-
fairs Committee
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
� Hsieh Fu.chih (69)
lic Securit er; Chairman,
al Revolutionary Corn-
ittee; Vice Premie
� Li Hsien-nien (66)
Finance Minister
� Wang Tung-hsing (age unknown)"
Public Security Vice Minister; Direc-
tor, General Office, Party Central
Committee
HONORARY ELDERS
� Chu Te (85)
Chairman, National People's
Congress
� Liu Po-ch'eng (79)
Vice Chairman, National People's
Congress; Military Affairs Committee
� Tung Pi-wu (85)
Vice Chairman, People's Republic
of China
"Alternate Members
Purged or status in doubt
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