What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified government record concerning electronic counter measures activities in Formosa. This document, a Memorandum of Conversation from the American Embassy, Taipei, dated December thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-four, highlights discussions between American and Chinese officials regarding the status of a U.S. electronic counter measures unit. This document can be found at archive.org, part of the collection hosted by The Black Vault. This record was released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act, without a specific case number cited, as part of a larger declassification effort concerning U.S. intelligence on China. The original classification was "Secret," and it was subsequently declassified by an unspecified authority. The document, a Memorandum of Conversation, lists participants as Mr. Hsu Shao-Chiang, Head of the American Section of the Foreign Office, and Mr. W. P. Cochran, Junior. The subject is Electronic Counter Measures Activities in Formosa. "I called this afternoon upon Mr. Hsu, Head of the American Section of the Foreign Office, at his request. He adverted to the Embassy memorandum of April twenty-third, nineteen-fifty-three, asking for permission for the entrance into Formosa of a group of experts to engage in electronic counter measures activities. The Foreign Office gave the Chinese Government approval in a reply memorandum of May fifteenth, nineteen-fifty-three. First there came a survey group to look over the possibilities and the counter-measures unit itself arrived in December of nineteen-fifty-three. Mr. Hsu pointed out that our original memorandum had asked for this group to enter for a period of six months and that it had been granted on that basis. Actually they had now been here for a year, without any request having been made for the extension of their stay, and they are still operating, with no indication as to when their activities will terminate. He also indicated his realization of the fact that they desired to continue their operations indefinitely. He said that he thought that it was now time to regularize their status. Mr. Hsu adverted to the fact that the original memoranda had mentioned the Chinese desire for their personnel to participate in this operation as well as their desire to share in the information gained. He cited a letter from General Peng Meng-Chi dated October twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-four, reference nine-seven-six, G-two dash two-oh-eight, addressed to General Chase, referring particularly to the second of these desires; and to General Chase's reply of November twenty-second, reference M-G-S-O, stating that the material so required was forwarded to the parent unit in Japan and from there to Washington. He intimated that he had no reports of these results but that when he should receive them, he would try to obtain copies for the Chinese. Mr. Hsu desired to know whether the Embassy wished to request an extension of the agreement, and on what…

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.

Case File · ARCHIVE-392Declassified

Filed SEP 28 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA Today, We Examine A Declassified Government Record Concerning Electronic

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated September 28, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified government record concerning electronic counter measures activities in Formosa. S. electronic counter measures unit. org, part of the collection hosted by The Black Vault. S. intelligence on China. The original classification was "Secret," and it was subsequently declassified by an unspecified authority.

Date: SEP 28 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified government record concerning electronic counter measures activities in Formosa. This document, a Memorandum of Conversation from the American Embassy, Taipei, dated December thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-four, highlights discussions between American and…

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What was CIA Today, We Examine A Declassified Government Record Concerning Electronic about?: Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified government record concerning electronic counter measures activities in Formosa. S. electronic counter measures unit. org, part of the collection hosted by The Black Vault. S. intelligence on China. The original classification was "Secret," and it was subsequently declassified by an unspecified authority.
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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