What did the declassified documents reveal?

U.S. intelligence on China – relocation of the Shu Linkou Air Station, Central Intelligence Agency, August twenty‑ninth, nineteen sixty‑nine. The document is notable because it contains a diplomatic cable that details U.S. assessments of Taiwanese development plans that could render the air station unusable, and it includes an attached memorandum titled “Development of the Linkou Plateau.” This record was released to the public through The Black Vault, which posted the full text of the CIA file on its website. The material was declassified under the authority of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Historical Review Board and made available without redaction, aside from standard classification markings that appear in the original text. The document begins as an official‑informal secret cable from the Embassy of the United States of America in Taipei, Taiwan, dated August twenty‑ninth, nineteen sixty‑nine, addressed to Thomas P. Shoesmith, Esquire, Country Director, EA/ROC, Department of State, Washington, D. C. The opening reads: “Dear Tom: In the Embassy Notes of August eighth, nineteen sixty‑nine, the question of the relocation of the Shu Linkou Air Station was touched upon. While I can’t say that we yet have all the information that would be necessary to make a full evaluation of the situation, I would like to pass on such information as is readily available to the Embassy. Enclosed for your background is a copy of a memorandum given the Ambassador by Admiral Chew on August first, nineteen sixty‑nine entitled ‘Development of the Linkou Plateau.’” The cable then summarizes the memorandum’s key points. It states that if the planned economic development of the Linkou Plateau continues, the usefulness of the air station would begin to be impaired around July, nineteen seventy, and would be substantially lost by July, nineteen seventy‑two. It notes that on July twenty‑ninth of this year the Ministry of National Defense verbally indicated a decision to move all or part of Shu Linkou Air Station. The cable adds that during a discussion with K. T. Li, the Minister of Finance remarked that development plans for Shu Linkou were so extensive that there was no alternative but to transfer the facilities to another site. The author reports having spoken with National Security Agency representatives who said they had received no written directive from the Government of the Republic of China. Admiral Chew had written to the Ministry of National Defense in May of that year, and the NSA personnel indicated they were still awaiting a written reply. The estimated cost of relocation was placed between ten and twenty million dollars. Casual conversations with United Nations personnel involved in the Linkou development also suggested that relocation was inevitable. The cable emphasizes that the Embassy itself was not in a position to evaluate the usefulness of the air station or to weigh that against relocation costs, and that the Embassy had not been asked by either…

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.

Declassified CIA File

◆ BLUF — The short version

S. intelligence on China – relocation of the Shu Linkou Air Station, Central Intelligence Agency, August twenty‑ninth, nineteen sixty‑nine. S. ” This record was released to the public through The Black Vault, which posted the full text of the CIA file on its website.

Date: AUG 7 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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U.S. intelligence on China – relocation of the Shu Linkou Air Station, Central Intelligence Agency, August twenty‑ninth, nineteen sixty‑nine. The document is notable because it contains a diplomatic cable that details U.S. assessments of Taiwanese development plans that could render the air station…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Declassified CIA File about?: S. intelligence on China – relocation of the Shu Linkou Air Station, Central Intelligence Agency, August twenty‑ninth, nineteen sixty‑nine. S. ” This record was released to the public through The Black Vault, which posted the full text of the CIA file on its website.
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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