What did the declassified documents reveal?

Status of Forces Negotiations – Annex J, U S. Communications and Electronics Units Agreement, February twenty‑third, nineteen fifty‑six, Central Intelligence Agency. This despatch is notable because it records the Chinese draft counter‑proposal and the final terms of the United Nations‑backed communications and electronics units arrangement that formed part of the broader U S‑Taiwan status‑of‑forces talks. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault, which digitized the original Central Intelligence Agency file and made it available online. The release is part of the agency’s routine declassification process; the specific declassification authority is not identified in the public record. Foreign Service Despatch, top secret, from the United States Embassy in Taipei to the Department of State, Washington. Date: February twenty‑third, nineteen fifty‑six. Reference: Embassy dispatch 458, February tenth, nineteen fifty‑six. Subject: Status of Forces Negotiations – Annex J. The enclosure provides the Chinese draft counter‑proposal for Annex J to the Military Agreement that is under negotiation as part of the agreement for the status of non‑MAAG U S. Armed Forces in Taiwan. The Chinese negotiators have accepted the U S draft of the military agreement but have added one paragraph at the end of Annex J. This new paragraph is identified as paragraph 2. Subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2 is described as follows: the Embassy perceives no serious objection to its inclusion. To the Embassy’s knowledge, the U S communications and electronics units concerned are presently furnishing the Chinese Government with intelligence information obtained through the use of their equipment. Some questions have arisen as to whether the Chinese are entitled to receive “raw data” obtained by the American units. The U S signal officers have objected to this proposal, and, to the Embassy’s knowledge, the disagreement on this point has been resolved and arrangements satisfactory to both sides are now in effect. If deemed necessary, the U S negotiators could request that an understanding be inserted in the official minutes of the negotiations on this point. Subparagraph (b) of paragraph 2 is subject to objection. The Chinese Government is desirous of obtaining title to the new, highly classified equipment in use at these installations. The major portion of this paragraph is redundant, as the disposition of buildings and improvements will be covered in the main agreement. The important wording is “as well as title to all equipment essential to the operation of the units.” The Embassy understands, however, that the United States, for security reasons, is determined not to transfer any such equipment to a foreign government. The same suggestion was made by the Chinese last year when the temporary arrangements for the operation of these electronics and communications units were under negotiation. At that time the Embassy flatly rejected the Chinese requests and it…

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-383Declassified

Filed SEP 23 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA Status Of Forces Negotiations – Annex J, U S.

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated September 23, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

Status of Forces Negotiations – Annex J, U S. Communications and Electronics Units Agreement, February twenty‑third, nineteen fifty‑six, Central Intelligence Agency. This despatch is notable because it records the Chinese draft counter‑proposal and the final terms of the United Nations‑backed communications and electronics units arrangement that formed part of the broader U S‑Taiwan status‑of‑forces talks.

Date: SEP 23 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Status Of Forces Negotiations – Annex J, U S. about?: Status of Forces Negotiations – Annex J, U S. Communications and Electronics Units Agreement, February twenty‑third, nineteen fifty‑six, Central Intelligence Agency. This despatch is notable because it records the Chinese draft counter‑proposal and the final terms of the United Nations‑backed communications and electronics units arrangement that formed part of the broader U S‑Taiwan status‑of‑forces talks.
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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