SINO SOVIET RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-537-8-20-5
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: January 2, 2013
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: December 23, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/02 : LOC-HAK-537-8-20-5
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INS' ORMATI ON
TOP SECRET /C ODEW ORD ~ December 23, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR HENRY.,,A-~ KISSINGER
FRAM: Tom I.,atixn.er) o'-
SUBJECT: 5ino Soviet Re la~ions
You might be interested in the attached item which notes that the Soviets
are claiming one of their border guards was killed in a "clash with the
enemy. " This is the first tinge since the Sina Soviet border talks began
in. October 1969 that the USSR has given. official publicity to an incident
resulting in Soviet casualties. '
It i~ possible that the rec~, nt upsurge in anti-Chinese propaganda by -
IVtoscow results from ~ Soviet awareness of tkle advanced state of
Chinese. strategic weapons development: .Bill Hyland v~+ill be doing a rnexno
to you addressing; this in more detail.
When you return froxaa. vacation you rxa.ight want Carl Duckett-to brief you
on the status of Chi>~.ese stxategic weapons development and deployment.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
TOP SECRET/CODEWORD
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/02 : LOC-HAK-537-8-20-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/02 : LOC-HAK-537-8-20-5
USSR Publicizes 1971 Clash on Chinese Border
Kazakhstanskaz~a Pravda on 19 December carried
a feature story alleging that a three-man Soviet unit
on China's border had a "clash with the enemy" in
'the fall of last year, in which one Soviet border
guard was apparently killed. The article mentions
that one man's military 1D card, "pierced by a bullet,"
is on display in connection with the observance of
border guards day. Referring back to the border
fighting in 1969, the newspaper heaps praise on one
of the survivors who was decorated with the Order of
Lenin.
This is the first time since the Sino-Soviet
border talks began iri October 1969 .that the USSR has
given official media publicity tv an incident result
ing in Soviet casualties. The Kazakhstanskaya Pravda
article lends some credibility to T~7estern press re--
~cxr:t