What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the reduction of United States military presence on Taiwan, dated March thirty-first, nineteen seventy. It is notable because it reveals internal deliberations linking diplomatic talks with the People’s Republic of China to a possible drawdown of forces in the Western Pacific. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault archive, where it is available as a digitized text file. The release reflects the agency’s standard declassification process, authorized by the appropriate classification authority and made accessible without redaction beyond the original markings. The memorandum begins with the heading: Department of State, Washington, D.C., secret, no distribution. March thirty-first, nineteen seventy. To: The Under Secretary, Through: Ambassador Johnson. From: Marshall Green. Subject: Reduction of United States Presence on Taiwan. Action Memorandum. Discussion: As our meetings with the Chinese proceed toward a higher‑level meeting in Peking, we are coming closer to the point of needing more precise information on which we could base decisions to reduce the American military presence on Taiwan. Such a study will require participation by the Defense Department and other agencies and may best be carried out in the context of other pending National Security Council studies regarding the United States military presence in the Western Pacific. I believe that we should encourage the National Security Council to move as rapidly as possible in asking for this assessment, and I am attaching an Eliot‑Kissinger memorandum designed to get the study started. The National Security Council staff, which is already laying the groundwork for levying the requirement on the various agencies, has suggested that we send such a memorandum to Mr. Kissinger. Recommendation: That you approve sending the attached memorandum. Clearances: EA/ACA – Mr. Kreisberg. EA/ROC – Mr. Shoesmith. Attachment: Eliot‑Kissinger Memorandum. The attached memorandum, addressed to Mr. Henry A. Kissinger of the White House, reads as follows: Memorandum for Mr. Henry A. Kissinger, the White House. Subject: Reduction of United States Presence on Taiwan. You will recall that we told the Chinese in Warsaw on February twentieth that it is our “intention to reduce those military facilities which we now have on Taiwan as tensions in the area diminish.” In our game plan, “U.S. Strategy in Current Sino‑U.S. Talks,” submitted as an enclosure to the Secretary’s memorandum to the President of February seventh, we noted that we may need to consider the question of reducing our military presence on Taiwan in the context of our desire for Peking’s commitment not to use force against the island. As we may now be moving toward a higher‑level meeting with the Chinese in Peking, we believe that we have a relatively urgent need for a clear assessment of the current and future importance of United States facilities on Taiwan…

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 Reduction Of United States

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the reduction of United States military presence on Taiwan, dated March thirty-first, nineteen seventy. It is notable because it reveals internal deliberations linking diplomatic talks with the People’s Republic of China to a possible drawdown of forces in the Western Pacific.

Date: AUG 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Reduction Of United States about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the reduction of United States military presence on Taiwan, dated March thirty-first, nineteen seventy. It is notable because it reveals internal deliberations linking diplomatic talks with the People’s Republic of China to a possible drawdown of forces in the Western Pacific.
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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Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning The Reduction Of United States

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