What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today, a declassified government record on missing prisoners of war from the United States Department of State, dated November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides a confidential report on Chinese prisoners of war. Source: vault.fbi.gov. This record was released through a Freedom of Information Act request by The Black Vault and is accessible via archive.org. The declassification authority is not specified on the document itself. The document, a confidential security information cable, states: "FROM: Taipei, Rec'd: November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-three, 9:27 a.m. TO: Secretary of State. NO: 299, November twenty-fourth, 4 p.m. SENT DEPARTMENT 299, REPEATED INFORMATION TOKYO 74, SEOUL 17. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Shih Chao-Ying reports that eleven batches of Chinese prisoners of war totalling 148 persons, most of whom are high school graduates with a smattering of English, were selected and trained for work behind enemy lines between August nineteen-fifty-one and August nineteen-fifty-three. Ninety-three among these have now (repeat now) been reported missing. Fifty-five are now (repeat now) stationed at Seoul and on Sunkat Island outside of Kangha Bay. Some had gone on as many as eleven missions. Vice Minister suggested that close U-S liaison be maintained with Chinese Embassy at Seoul regarding the work of these persons would be of help in achieving greater effectiveness. When the deportation of other Chinese prisoners of war is finally made, Minister requested that these prisoners of war also be returned to Formosa. RANKIN." The document also includes a classification marking: "CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION. Reproduction from this copy, if classified, is prohibited." This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find this document and more at storyflo.com, and directly at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01041/CI01041djvu.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.

FBI Today, A Declassified Government Record On Missing Prisoners Of War

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified. Today, a declassified government record on missing prisoners of war from the United States Department of State, dated November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides a confidential report on Chinese prisoners of war. gov. org. The declassification authority is not specified on the document itself.

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

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What was FBI Today, A Declassified Government Record On Missing Prisoners Of War about?: Declassified. Today, a declassified government record on missing prisoners of war from the United States Department of State, dated November twenty-fourth, nineteen-fifty-three. This document provides a confidential report on Chinese prisoners of war. gov. org. The declassification authority is not specified on the document itself.
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 Today, A Declassified Government Record On Missing Prisoners Of War

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