INDIA AND COMMINUST CHINA CONTEMPLATE USE OF 1,000 KILOWATT RADIO TRANSMITTERS FOR BROADCASTS TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01003A002100170003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release url^A.7' NO
X to and Ct tanist China Cont late Use of 1,000 Kilo tt Radio
tters i'Gr BroatIcaata to Southe&
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(32.5189)
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Ladia and Cc ttunis Cgai Con 12te Use of 1,000 Kilowatt Radio
itt rs for Sroadlcas s to Southeast Asia
19, Csuni.st China approached Japan for the purchase of a
1,000 kilowatt (kw) medium-wave radiobroadoasting transmitter. This request
in reaction to earlier Indian negotiations in 1963 and 196k with
Free World and C nist countries for the purchase of a similar 1,000 kv
transmitter to be located near Calcutta to counter Caamunist Chinese broadcasts
Although the proposed location and use of the C'anist
fitter is not known, it is expected that it will be installed in
Southwest China so as to improve broadcasting coverage to Southeast Asia. To
date neither-country has finalized negotiations for delivery of the transmitters.
contracts are signed in the near future, it is unlikely that either
ould be completed before late in 1966 in view of the lag inherent in the
design, production, and Installation of such transmitters.
Ind
Chinese Plans
In the aftermath of the Sino--Indian border war, India and Communist China
have sought to increase the coverage and effectiveness of their international
xadiobroadcasts to g
east Asia. Within this context of a possible burgeoning
propaganda war, both countries are now giving strong consideration to the use of
1,000 kw medium-wave radio transmitters. For its past, India early in 1963
reached an agreement with the Voice of America (yak) for a jointly-controlled
kw medium-wave transmitter to be installed near Calcutta. In August 1963
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 and opened negotiations with other Free World and Ccn=nist countries for the
India terminated the VOA agreement because of internal political considerations
import of a
'a n, the UK, and the US. All of these bids were unacceptable,
that would be completely under its operational
964 additional bide had been received fry Czechoslovakia,
however, either because of delivery dates or because financial terms
ftaP791Z?j 0 100170003-7
e payment. In May 1964 the USSR entered
the picture with an offer to provi `d.e on favorable terms a 1,000 kM transmitter
to be opera
o years- Although a flurry of interest foil
l~
the riet offer, India apparently has postponed? any decision at present.
e advent of the U offer to India, Communist China quickly revealed
a strong interest in acquiring a l..000 kw medium-wave radio transmitter. In
hopes of Meting this need, Communist China turned to a Japanese trading eo paj,r.
in July 1964 when it submitted a formal request for assistance in the construction
. of a 1,000 kw radio station with Japanese technology and equipment.
1eee interest in 1,000
orld-wide interest in supplementing international short-wave
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2Tj
IA=RD3P79CI
Wit)
e broadcasts to reach the greater number of
EPe broadcast receivers. Propagation conditions at
never, are such that coverage beyond a few hundred miles
reed during hours of darkness. As shown the ace
transmitter planned for installation near Calcutta probabjj cad
high signal strength to at least 1,000 miles.
',ve transmitter in the Kunming area. Nightt
et China could achieve similar geographic coverage by
of this size might in fact extend to 2,000 miles although
the signal strength would be snuck weaker and subject to intermittent fading.
At present the 'E has the only operational 1,000 kw medium-wave transmitters ,...
ilippinee -- but the UK and ypt probably will
bare Operational transmitters of similar power in the near future. This limited
use
;e would enco as all of Bursa and parts of Laos., Thailand, and
d to a considerable de
requirement for manufacturing specialized oemponent parts for such powerful
transmitters and the high investment ant. operating costs.
setmeat
:oats for 1,100 kw transmitters range from US $1 million to US $2 million and
noting and maintenance costs range from $250#000 to US 5C , 0
Although the US offer to India appears at present to be the most attractive
and indeed the most likely to be accepted, India still has the alternative of a
-3-
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 Approved For Release._20 I P7~T O 3 70003-7
Czechoslovakian offer to accept rupee pa nt for a somevhat smaller transmitter.
Ong the bids off'erec3 by non-rupee payment countries the two bids re nclered by
are the most favorable. India bas attempted to rationalize its earlier
the Japanese offer on the basis that its electronics infbzstryy lacks
eJ perience in the design and oduction of such transmitters although in fact
nice industry of the USSR is similarly untested. The advanced stage
the electronics
would
e ability, to mater the necessary technology and c
le an operational transmitter within two years. With respect to Ca ist
apan probably will accede to their request for technology and, equi
radio station. Japan's initial response to
obably reflected an awareness that the would
nese assistance in the buildup of Ccunist China I r.
national broadcasting effort to Southeast
probably will be relu at to jeopardize its
supplier of teleccmnznicatic equipment to C nit t China .
ed Nighttime Coverage of 1L)OO Kilowat
jble Sites
ndia anti. Communist China
Nevertheless,
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 State. Nei, Delhi. Aires A-1053, 23 Apr 64, p. 1-3.
I . t z (Middle East, fi , and West Bur
15 May 19640 . 1. U.
e, New Delhi. Incoming '-521, p. , 14 Aug 64. 8.
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), no . 96