Cable from the Chinese Embassy in Cuba, 'The Situation of the American Blockade of Cuba'

Military Intelligence Department,

The head of the 2nd division of Cuban military intelligence department, Yitulinuo [transliteration], described the situation of the American blockade of Cuba as follows:

From 22 to 29 October, [in the area stretching] from Cabanas of Pinar del Rio Province, to Bahia de Santa Clara of Matanzas Province, every day there were some 170 sorties of American airplanes conducting scouting and blockading (at heights between 5,000 to 10,000 meters); the American aircraft carrier, Independence, was operating in these waters; it constantly sent and received airplanes, scouting and taking photography [over an area stretching] from Havana Province, Bay of Pigs Cuban air-fields, all the way to Oriente Province. In the Florida Channel, there were often 40 to 50 warships. The American aircraft carrier, Enterprise, C.V.A.N.-65, appearing in the waters to the east end of the Bahamas [Panamas in text] and near the Turks, constantly received and sent airplanes, conducting operations of scouting and blockading along the Oriente Province,  Jamaica island, and Haiti. In the waters north of Jamaica island, was an American aircraft carrier with several medium and small warships. The US is transferring troops, weapons, and tanks to Guantanamo via warships.

Between the 30th and the 31st of October, when the UN general secretary U Thant visited Cuba, American warships were 500 kilometers off the Cuban coast with reduced activities of warships and airplanes. After U Thant left Cuba, American warships advanced to the waters 200 kilometers from Cuba or even closer. Besides blockading, [they] also conducted scouting, intercepting (with radio and radar) with increased activities of warships and airplanes.

The American U-2, shot down last week, is in the area near Nipe, Oriente Province.

Now Cuba is planning to establish frontline headquarters (not based in Havana). Most chiefs [of departments] of the general staff [are expected to] go to the front line, while second-to-chiefs or deputy chiefs will chair routine works.

Military Attaché of the Embassy in Cuba

2 November 1962