What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the Taiwan Straits, issued as a National Security Council Briefing on August twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-eight. It details Chinese Communist operations and intelligence community assessments during a critical period of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. This document is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was approved for release by the Central Intelligence Agency on August twenty-ninth, two-thousand. Its declassification authority is CIA-RDP seven-nine-zero-one-zero-four-eight-A zero-zero-zero-one-zero-zero-zero-three-zero-zero-zero-two-three. The document, titled "NSC Briefing, twenty-seventh August nineteen-fifty-eight, Taiwan Straits," begins: Chinese Communist operations in Taiwan Straits area moved into new phase with opening of artillery bombardment of Quemoys. A. Chicoms fired more than twenty thousand rounds twenty-third August (greatest previously recorded was about ten thousand in nineteen-fifty-four); lesser amounts every day since (around eight thousand). 1. Damage minor except for first day, when Chinat H-Q on Quemoy heavily shelled, deputy commander killed, Chief of Staff wounded. 2. Nationalists fired more than three thousand six hundred rounds in return first day, and eight thousand following day, results undetermined. Three lines redacted under exemption B-one. B. Communist P-T boats sank one Nationalist L-S-T, damaged another three miles east of Quemoy. Nationalists claim two P-T boats sunk. 1. Also claim to have driven off “invasion fleet” headed for Tungting Island. Two lines redacted under exemption B-one. Both sides continue fighter patrols in great strength. Nationalists claim two M-I-G-s shot down twenty-fifth August. One line redacted under exemption B-one. Chinats pleased with performance their pilots. C. On twenty-sixth August Chiang Kai-shek told Ambassador Drumright he believed Communists had adopted tactic of "creeping interdiction" of Quemoys, said if present actions continued islands would soon be cut off. 1. Chiang emphasized danger that continued interdiction would cause sharp drop in morale of defending forces, making seizure of islands "no problem." One line redacted under exemption B-one. In short run, however, reports morale holding up well under shelling. D. Meanwhile Chicom build-up continues. 1. In addition to five airfields previously occupied, we believe Huian now occupied by jet fighters. (This makes seven regiments of about two hundred M-I-G-seventeen s). a. We think one regiment of thirty fighters may have moved from Chenghai near Swatow to Rantai, opposite the Matsus. b. Also about thirty fighters have moved from the north into Chuhsien, probably enroute to coastal area. Two lines redacted under exemption B-one. c. At least a regiment (thirty aircraft) and possibly a full division (ninety aircraft) of I-L-two-eight jet light bombers moved from Nanking to Changshu on twenty-second August. d. Also unknown…

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.

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Taiwan Straits, Issued

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the Taiwan Straits, issued as a National Security Council Briefing on August twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-eight. It details Chinese Communist operations and intelligence community assessments during a critical period of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.

Date: SEP 21 · 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

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Taiwan Straits, Issued about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the Taiwan Straits, issued as a National Security Council Briefing on August twenty-seventh, nineteen-fifty-eight. It details Chinese Communist operations and intelligence community assessments during a critical period of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.
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

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Taiwan Straits, Issued

Questions about this case

Related cases

Office Of Naval Intelligence: Department Of The Navy Memorandum From The Office Of The Chief

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Concerning Chinese Military

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Bulletin Concerning The Chinese

Government Record On United States Intelligence Concerning Chinese Nationalist

Questions about this case

Related cases

Office Of Naval Intelligence: Department Of The Navy Memorandum From The Office Of The Chief

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Concerning Chinese Military

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Bulletin Concerning The Chinese

Government Record On United States Intelligence Concerning Chinese Nationalist

Get the next declassified case in your inbox