What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today, a memorandum for record from Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, about Operation Plan Number 45-53, dated May twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides insight into United States military planning concerning China during the early Cold War. You can find this record at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by the Department of Defense to The Black Vault under the Freedom of Information Act, case number D-A-F-O-S-C-1-A, on August sixth, two-thousand-and-fifteen. The declassification authority for this record is the Automatic Declassification Program, which reviews and declassifies records that are more than twenty-five years old. The document is a memorandum for record from the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, concerning Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Operation Plan Number 45-53. The memorandum states: "The attached Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Operation Plan Number 45-53, Top Secret, is promulgated this date for the information and guidance of all concerned. This plan supersedes Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Operation Plan Number 45-52, dated November first, nineteen-fifty-two." The document also indicates the need for subordinate commanders to review their own plans for compliance with this new operation plan. The memorandum is marked "Top Secret" and "Security Information". The Black Vault’s archival entry provides context for this document, noting that it represents United States intelligence regarding China, specifically Operation Plan Number 45-53. The summary further indicates that the plan itself, beyond this memorandum, details strategic operational objectives. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find more at storyflo.com and the document's canonical U-R-L, which is archive.org/download/us-china-intel-C-I-zero-zero-nine-nine-eight/C-I-zero-zero-nine-nine-eightdjvu.txt.

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.

Today, A Memorandum For Record From Commander In Chief, Pacific

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified. Today, a memorandum for record from Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, about Operation Plan Number 45-53, dated May twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides insight into United States military planning concerning China during the early Cold War. com.

Date: OCT 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Today, A Memorandum For Record From Commander In Chief, Pacific about?: Declassified. Today, a memorandum for record from Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, about Operation Plan Number 45-53, dated May twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides insight into United States military planning concerning China during the early Cold War. com.
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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Today, A Memorandum For Record From Commander In Chief, Pacific

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