301. Editorial Note
The Weekly Review of February 16, 1968, prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Intelligence, included a section entitled “Soviets Continue To Expand Forces on Chinese Border.” It stated that Soviet ground forces had been augmented in the last half of 1967 in regions bordering China in the Far East and Transbaykal Military Districts. Before the reinforcement began, about 21 ground divisions were deployed in regions along the Chinese border, whereas only 15 divisions were maintained in those areas prior to 1965, when significant Soviet reinforcement began.
Special Assistant Walt Rostow sent a copy to President Johnson with a covering memorandum of February 16 noting: “The undramatic but not trivial Soviet military build-up along the Chinese Communist border during 1967 may interest you.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, China, Codeword, Vol. II)