What did the declassified documents reveal?

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated November twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three, details a top-secret plan for countering Chinese aggression outside of Korea, including the use of atomic weapons. This document is available at vault.fbi.gov and documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act as part of the C-I-A's historical review program. It was declassified on November tenth, nineteen-seventy-eight, and consists of four pages. The document is a Top Secret communication regarding intelligence on China, specifically a plan to counter Chinese aggression outside Korea. From: Originator. To: C-O-M-S-A-C, information C-O-M-F-E-A-F. Subject: S-A-C Planning to Counter Chinese Communist Aggression Outside Korea. Recent national policy and planning developments make it desirable for S-A-C to begin planning, at an early date, for attacks against China and Manchuria for the purpose of countering Chinese Communist aggression outside Korea. C-I-N-C-F-E and C-I-N-C-P-A-C are currently charged with the development of plans for this purpose. In light of this, it is desired that you begin work on an operation plan, using atomic weapons, for this purpose as a matter of priority. Action is being taken to secure a J-C-S directive to S-A-C to develop a similar plan. Suggested S-A-C missions for this plan: A. Reduce the industrial and logistical capabilities of Communist China through attacks upon targets located in China and Manchuria, so that no large scale [one line redacted] aggression by Communist China can be sustained. B. Neutralize or destroy all military forces in China and Manchuria. The following assumptions and guidelines are considered appropriate for the development of this plan: A. The use of the required number of atomic weapons will be authorized. B. Implementation of the plan may be required at any time on short notice. C. C-O-M-S-A-C, C-I-N-C-P-A-C and C-I-N-C-F-E will operate as separate commanders under the J-C-S, mutually supporting each other. Theater commanders will be authorized to attack targets that constitute an immediate threat to their military operations. D. In the event of general emergency, implementation of the J-W-P will take priority over implementation of this plan. In this connection, provisions for alerting and/or deploying S-A-C will be made to meet the increased threat of general war. E. Target lists should be arranged into allowing groups insofar as possible. F. Plan should be coordinated with C-O-M-F-E-A-F and upon completion forwarded to this headquarters for review. The document is signed by B. M. Hatcher, Director of Plans. An attached summary further explains the proposed message: 1. The attached proposed message to C-O-M-S-A-C, information C-O-M-F-E-A-F, would direct the preparation of an operations plan for the attack of selected targets in China and Manchuria with atomic weapons to counter Chinese Communist aggression outside Korea. This directive…

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.

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, Dated November

◆ BLUF — The short version

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated November twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three, details a top-secret plan for countering Chinese aggression outside of Korea, including the use of atomic weapons. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act as part of the C-I-A's historical review program.

Date: OCT 3 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated November twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three, details a top-secret plan for countering Chinese aggression outside of Korea, including the use of atomic weapons. This document is available at vault.fbi.gov and documents2.theblackvault.com…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, Dated November about?: This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, dated November twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-three, details a top-secret plan for countering Chinese aggression outside of Korea, including the use of atomic weapons. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act as part of the C-I-A's historical review program.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, Dated November

Questions about this case

Related cases

Army: United States Intelligence Memorandum Concerning The Far East Command’s

Army: Cable From General Headquarters, Far East Command, Regarding Royal Air Force

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Summary On Developments In China

United States Army Record Concerning A Reported Chinese Plan To Attack Indochina

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning Intelligence On A Possible

Questions about this case

Related cases

Army: United States Intelligence Memorandum Concerning The Far East Command’s

Army: Cable From General Headquarters, Far East Command, Regarding Royal Air Force

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Summary On Developments In China

United States Army Record Concerning A Reported Chinese Plan To Attack Indochina

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning Intelligence On A Possible

Get the next declassified case in your inbox