What did the declassified documents reveal?

From storyflo, this is Declassified. Today, we delve into a declassified C-I-A record concerning U.S. Intelligence on China, specifically, guerrilla attacks in China and discussions with Senator Smith. This document, a letter from December twentieth, nineteen-fifty, outlines early American considerations for supporting anti-Communist resistance movements on the Chinese mainland. You can find this document on archive.org, linked via The Black Vault entry at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and is available through the public archives, declassified by various authorities over time. Its release sheds light on the U.S. government's internal deliberations regarding covert operations in China during the nascent stages of the Cold War. The document is an informal letter, dated December twentieth, nineteen-fifty, from the American Embassy, Taipei, to Livingston Merchant, Esquire, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. It discusses alleged Nationalist attacks in Wenchow Bay, noting that the operation was "evidently a 'guerrilla' affair." The author states, "I doubt that Nationalist planes were involved and any participation by a naval vessel presumably would have been incidental or unintended." They continue, "Probably our Departments of State and Defense would deny any knowledge of or responsibility for various guerrilla activities in South China. I wouldn't know." The letter reveals the existence of a committee in Taipei "which is supposed to supervise, support and coordinate resistance movements on the Mainland," chaired by General Chow Chih-Jou. The author's impression is that the Chinese Government "actually is extending a minimum of support and encouragement to resistance movements on the Mainland." The Wenchow Bay affair is described as "typical of what little is being done." The document further recounts a conversation with Senator H. Alexander Smith in Hong Kong, where the Senator sought views on what should be done in the Far East. The author summarized a consensus: "The United States should draw a line against further Communist expansion in Asia. This did not mean that we should announce and define such demarcation... It did mean that we should persuade all concerned that any further aggression would be highly dangerous to the perpetrators." The author suggested that "the United States should make secret but substantial preparations to extend military assistance, including direct armed support if necessary." The letter argues, "It seems clear to me that the time is now. Surely no responsible Americans can retain illusions about the Chinese Communists who are killing thousands of our men in a war of wanton aggression." It advocates for "effective support of resistance movements inside the Iron Curtain, and particularly in Communist China," emphasizing that "no holds are barred in this game." The author recommends "full use of the potential facilities in Korea, in Japan, in Formosa, in…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-002Declassified

Filed OCT 26 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA From Storyflo, This Is Declassified.

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated October 26, 2026

covert-ops

◆ BLUF — The short version

From storyflo, this is Declassified. S. Intelligence on China, specifically, guerrilla attacks in China and discussions with Senator Smith. This document, a letter from December twentieth, nineteen-fifty, outlines early American considerations for supporting anti-Communist resistance movements on the Chinese mainland.

Date: OCT 26 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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From storyflo, this is Declassified. Today, we delve into a declassified C-I-A record concerning U.S. Intelligence on China, specifically, guerrilla attacks in China and discussions with Senator Smith. This document, a letter from December twentieth, nineteen-fifty, outlines early American…

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What was CIA From Storyflo, This Is Declassified. about?: From storyflo, this is Declassified. S. Intelligence on China, specifically, guerrilla attacks in China and discussions with Senator Smith. This document, a letter from December twentieth, nineteen-fifty, outlines early American considerations for supporting anti-Communist resistance movements on the Chinese mainland.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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