A
RESTRICTED
Covering CONFIDENTIAL
c.
d.
of addresses in the United Kingdom and to depository libraries. The only example of such a brief on China is "Wider Options in China's Foreign Policy" (November 1978).
These
Unattributable Research Assessments. papers, normally edited and sanitised versions of classified assessments, are sent to posts for responsive briefing and, where appropriate, for transmission to trusted contacts. They are not circulated within the United Kingdom. Examples of papers on China issued in this series are: "China's Economy and Foreign Trade 1976-77" (July 1978); "China's Oil Prospects" (September 1978); "Sino-Vietnamese Dispute" (September 1978).
Biographies on Chinese Personalities (unattributable).
Samples of (a) - (c) are attached.
ARGUMENT
4.
As a leading member of the international community, China
The is something of a special case in information terms. implications for British interests of her size and resources, population, her membership of the UN Security Council and her nuclear capability, combined with her standing in Asia and impact on super power relationships all speak for themselves. Despite the greater openness which has developed in recent months, Chinese society remains relatively closed and reporting in the media from Peking, though much better than it used to be, is still insufficiently comprehensive and expert. Reliable information on political trends within China and accurate analysis of her external policy is still not easy to come by. If our posts, particularly in Asia and in other countries with a close interest in Chinese affairs, are to display the right degree of expertise on China, they
/need
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RESTRICTED
Covering CONFIDENTIAL