What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today's document, sourced from The Black Vault, is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record titled "DI/USAF Contribution to NIE 27: Chinese Communist Capabilities and Intentions with Respect Taiwan," dated January thirty-first, nineteen-fifty-two. It outlines an assessment of China's military capabilities concerning Taiwan in the early nineteen-fifties. You can find the full document at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency, with no objection to its release determined by a review under the authority of H-A one hundred two of the C-I-A Reviewer guidelines. It contains information of C-I-A interest that was determined to remain unclassified. The document opens with a section titled, "I. The Chinese Communist Situation." "A. What Chinese Communist Forces are now in position for operations against Taiwan?" "One. Ground Forces." "No contribution." "Two. Air Forces." "A. Strength." "The Chinese Communist Air Force (C-C-A-F) is estimated to have available a total of approximately one thousand seven hundred combat aircraft, including about one hundred thirty of the North Korean Air Force (N-K-A-F) and approximately nine hundred jet fighters of undetermined subordination. This aggregate air strength is estimated to include the following: nine hundred jet fighters, two hundred fifty piston fighters, one hundred sixty ground attack, two hundred forty light bombers and one hundred fifty two-engine transports of various types." "B. Disposition." "It is estimated that currently the bulk of the aircraft available to the Chinese Communists are located in Northeastern China Proper and in Manchuria. Communist aircraft presently believed to be based nearest to Taiwan are the following: thirty-seven jet fighters at Canton, seventy-four jet fighters at Hankow, seventy jet fighters and forty piston fighters at Shanghai, and eighty light bombers at Nanking. Of these, the light bombers are the only aircraft within striking distance of Taiwan. Accordingly, a major redeployment of aircraft by the Chinese Communists probably would be necessary before a major air offensive against Taiwan could be launched. On the other hand, the Communists might elect to operate against Taiwan from established bases in Shanghai, Nanking, Hankow, and Canton by staging aircraft through unimproved airfields on the China mainland opposite Taiwan. Sufficient usable airfields are available to the Chinese Communists on the China mainland within effective fighter and light bomber range of Taiwan. During the past two years an extensive airfield repair and facilities build-up program has been underway in China along the coastal belt from Shanghai Southward to Canton. Existing airfields are being improved and previous sites re-activated. This work has been principally under Soviet supervision." The document continues with a table listing airfield complexes: "Area: Canton, six airfields." "Opposite Taiwan…

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.

CIA "di/usaf Contribution To Nie 27

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today's document, sourced from The Black Vault, is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record titled "DI/USAF Contribution to NIE 27: Chinese Communist Capabilities and Intentions with Respect Taiwan," dated January thirty-first, nineteen-fifty-two. It outlines an assessment of China's military capabilities concerning Taiwan in the early nineteen-fifties.

Date: OCT 13 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA "di/usaf Contribution To Nie 27 about?: This is Declassified. Today's document, sourced from The Black Vault, is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record titled "DI/USAF Contribution to NIE 27: Chinese Communist Capabilities and Intentions with Respect Taiwan," dated January thirty-first, nineteen-fifty-two. It outlines an assessment of China's military capabilities concerning Taiwan in the early nineteen-fifties.
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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CIA "di/usaf Contribution To Nie 27

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