What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, a declassified C-I-A intelligence briefing on Chinese Nationalist preparations for a counterattack, dated May sixth, nineteen-sixty-three. This document provides an assessment of the Nationalist forces' capabilities and intentions regarding operations against mainland China. You can find this record at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency under the Freedom of Information Act. Its declassification was authorized on January twenty-fourth, two-thousand-two, by the National Archives and Records Administration. The original document is marked "Secret" and is part of a larger collection of U.S. intelligence on China. The document begins: "Chinese Nationalist Preparations For Counterattack. [three lines redacted] Although Nationalist forces are at a peak of readiness, we have no recent indicators of an attempt to land a division on the mainland this summer, as reported. It seems more likely that, in the next few months, Chiang Kai-shek plans only to increase the tempo of small-scale guerrilla and commando operations." It continues: "We would note that [four words redacted] Chiang had received letters from the President and from the D C I on this subject. There are areas, however, in which the Nationalists are especially sensitive and where we do not always get the full story in advance. The training of special forces for mainland operations has been one of these areas. Nevertheless, we feel that our information is sufficient to support our judgments on this subject." Regarding air assault capabilities, the briefing states: "The Nationalists have only enough aircraft to drop about half a division—approximately three thousand five hundred men—within a seventy-five mile radius of Taiwan, and this capability is limited by the lack of equipment to counter Chinese Communist air defense detection and interception. The U S has recently given the Nationalists two C-one-thirties with effective electronic countermeasures equipment—which could lift not more than one hundred men." On naval capabilities: "The naval amphibious force, in maximum effort requiring the overloading of all ships, could transport two divisions but would face great difficulties in resupplying this force. The Nationalists are reportedly constructing one hundred L C M landing craft, which, if designed according to U S specifications, could transport one division of lightly armed men. These L C M's could be employed in operations from Taiwan to the mainland only in ideal weather, although they could be used from the offshore islands in almost any weather. [one name redacted] on Taiwan reported last month that he believed about fifty L C M's had been completed, with the remaining fifty to be finished upon the receipt and installation of engines. The engines are to be delivered in mid-May. Our best estimate is that September would be the earliest date by which the full one hundred L C M's could be launched." The…

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.

CIA Today, A Declassified C I A Intelligence Briefing On Chinese Nationalist

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, a declassified C-I-A intelligence briefing on Chinese Nationalist preparations for a counterattack, dated May sixth, nineteen-sixty-three. This document provides an assessment of the Nationalist forces' capabilities and intentions regarding operations against mainland China. com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency under the Freedom of Information Act.

Date: SEP 8 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Today, A Declassified C I A Intelligence Briefing On Chinese Nationalist about?: This is Declassified. Today, a declassified C-I-A intelligence briefing on Chinese Nationalist preparations for a counterattack, dated May sixth, nineteen-sixty-three. This document provides an assessment of the Nationalist forces' capabilities and intentions regarding operations against mainland China. com. This document was released by the Central Intelligence Agency under the Freedom of Information Act.
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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