What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today we present a declassified C.I.A. record concerning Chinese "Third Force" politics, dated March seventh, nineteen fifty-one. This document offers insight into U.S. intelligence gathering during a critical period of Cold War tensions in Asia, and is available at vault.fbi.gov. This record, a confidential cable from Taipei to the Department of State, was declassified under the Freedom of Information Act. It provides a snapshot of U.S. diplomatic reporting from the period and helps to illuminate the intricate political landscape of post-World War Two China. The document, titled "Chinese 'Third Force'", is a priority air pouch from Taipei, number one forty-seven, dated March seventh, nineteen fifty-one. It was sent to the Department of State. The salient points made by Mr. Yang Chun-ming, Counselor, Office of the President of the Republic of China, in a conversation March seventh, nineteen fifty-one, with Mr. Armand Vallieres, U.S.U.N. Attache, and Mr. Robert Rinden, Second Secretary, are summarized below. Mr. Yang considers that within the next few months there may be a coalescence of various Chinese political parties and cliques outside the Kuomintang into a "Third Force" and that Dr. Carson Chang may be chosen to head this new group. In this connection, he states that Mr. Chang, who is now living at care of Headmaster Lloyd, Dr. Graham's Home, Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, and has been lecturing throughout India at more than thirty educational institutions, would like to go to the United States to lecture at the University of Washington and to see old friends, including General George Marshall. However, the Chinese passport with which Dr. Chang traveled to India has now expired and President Chiang, Mr. Yang says, will not permit him to have a new passport except for the purpose of coming to Formosa. Declaring that the President has repeatedly urged Dr. Chang to come to Formosa and that he is aware of Dr. Chang's connections with proposed "Third Force" elements, Mr. Yang states that the President is "annoyed" with him and does not want him to travel to the United States. Mr. Yang requested that Dr. Chang's difficulties be brought to the attention of General Marshall for possible solutions. Mr. Yang believes that the creation of a "Third Force" is imperative since he feels that the Kuomintang government of President Chiang, owing to corruption and ineffectiveness, cannot defeat the Chinese Communists. Moreover, he avers, the real place for vanquishing Chinese Communism is the mainland—not Formosa—and accordingly the reaction of the continental Chinese is the vital one. If these people are to rise up and to overthrow their Communist masters, it must be for some more compelling objective than to bring about the return of the Kuomintang under the Gimo. With respect to the much-talked-of counteroffensive against the Communist-held mainland, he said that such a project cannot be carried out under present conditions; militarily…

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.

FBI Record Concerning Chinese "third Force" Politics, Dated March Seventh, Nineteen

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified. A. record concerning Chinese "Third Force" politics, dated March seventh, nineteen fifty-one. S. gov. This record, a confidential cable from Taipei to the Department of State, was declassified under the Freedom of Information Act. S. diplomatic reporting from the period and helps to illuminate the intricate political landscape of post-World War Two China.

Date: OCT 23 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Declassified. Today we present a declassified C.I.A. record concerning Chinese "Third Force" politics, dated March seventh, nineteen fifty-one. This document offers insight into U.S. intelligence gathering during a critical period of Cold War tensions in Asia, and is available at vault.fbi.gov…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was FBI Record Concerning Chinese "third Force" Politics, Dated March Seventh, Nineteen about?: Declassified. A. record concerning Chinese "Third Force" politics, dated March seventh, nineteen fifty-one. S. gov. This record, a confidential cable from Taipei to the Department of State, was declassified under the Freedom of Information Act. S. diplomatic reporting from the period and helps to illuminate the intricate political landscape of post-World War Two China.
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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FBI Record Concerning Chinese "third Force" Politics, Dated March Seventh, Nineteen

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