What did the declassified documents reveal?

From the F-B-I vault, this declassified U.S. Army record, dated January thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-five, concerns a request from the Republic of China for U.S. concurrence in bombing mainland ports following air raids on the Tachen Islands. This document, available at documents2.theblackvault.com, details the U.S. assessment of the situation and the proposed response. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and made public on January twelfth, two-thousand-fourteen. The declassification authority for this record is the A-A-R-O. It serves as an example of how the U.S. government processes and releases historical intelligence records. The document, a cable from Taipei to the Secretary of State, states: "As a result air raids reported Embassy telegram four hundred forty-eight, January tenth, C-A-F has requested U.S. concurrence in bombing shipping and anti-aircraft positions (only) in mainland ports. General Chase concurs and has referred request to C-I-N-C-P-A-C. Interdiction by air. If island were isolated this fashion and by seizure more and more surrounding islets, it would eventually fall to Communists like a ripe apple. This would be contrary our interests which would seem require that if island falls it be only as result military assault and after strong defense, otherwise why have we consistently encouraged G-R-C to defend off-shore islands. Yet obviously Chinese airforce from Taiwan cannot provide adequate air defense for Tachen, nor has it capability." The cable continues, "Believe January tenth raids apparently directed primarily against shipping have demonstrated to G-R-C vulnerability Tachen to. damaging Communist airfields northwest of Tachen to degree warranting heavy losses which would be incurred. These matters will be discussed with General Bolte Deputy Chief - Staff Army tomorrow although not strictly within his province. Meanwhile Embassy considers that G-R-C must react promptly and vigorously to these attacks, and that most acceptable method. bombing probably that proposed by C-A-P and. 'T-O-P S-H-O-R-E' concurred in by General Chase." The Black Vault’s archival entry notes that this document provides U.S. intelligence on China and discussions around the defense against Chinese air raids, offering a glimpse into military strategy and diplomatic exchanges during a tense period in the Cold War. It reflects concerns about the vulnerability of the Tachen Islands and the strategic implications of their potential fall to Communist forces. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. storyflo.com, and the full document can be found at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01160/CI01160djvu.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.

Army: From The F B I Vault, This Declassified U.s.

◆ BLUF — The short version

S. S. concurrence in bombing mainland ports following air raids on the Tachen Islands. S. assessment of the situation and the proposed response. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and made public on January twelfth, two-thousand-fourteen.

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

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Episode notes

From the F-B-I vault, this declassified U.S. Army record, dated January thirteenth, nineteen-fifty-five, concerns a request from the Republic of China for U.S. concurrence in bombing mainland ports following air raids on the Tachen Islands. This document, available at documents2.theblackvault.com…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Army: From The F B I Vault, This Declassified U.s. about?: S. S. concurrence in bombing mainland ports following air raids on the Tachen Islands. S. assessment of the situation and the proposed response. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and made public on January twelfth, two-thousand-fourteen.
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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Army: From The F B I Vault, This Declassified U.s.

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