Cable from the Chinese Embassy in Burma, 'On Burmese Politics and Recommendations for Ne Win’s Visit to China'

Finance and the economy have gotten even worse, production continues to decline, exchange has decreased, currency is inflated, goods are scarce, the black market is gaining notoriety, and prices are rising (the price of rice has gone up 60%). People’s standard of living is going down, and feelings of dissatisfaction toward the Ne Win government are growing daily.

Ne Win’s pending visit to China is his first since he took over the government in 1962. We should show him the highest courtesies, and we recommend that Chairman Mao [Zedong] be there to greet him in person.

The Burmese government is in crisis, worse than crisis. The reason is government errors as well as lack of experience.

What is needed is for Vice Premier Lin Biao to visit Burma, insinuating that they can rely on China to fight off American invasion in the long term, and that friendship between our two countries’ militaries will be preemptively strengthened.

On July 17, the embassy announced: after the news of Ne Win’s visit to China was made public, it brought out speculation among foreigners. On the 16^th, [British newspaper] The Guardian published an editorial claiming that if the Ne Win government wanted to continue its neutrality, it should not allow other countries to meddle in its affairs. The chief objective of his visit to China is to discuss the topic of Chinese economic aid for Burma and to dispel doubts about American imperialism.