What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified United States Air Force Security Service record concerning the Taiwan crisis of 1958, dated March one, nineteen seventy‑two. It is notable because it reveals the United States’ contingency planning, including nuclear options, during a Cold War flashpoint in the Taiwan Strait. The document is hosted by The Black Vault at archive.org. The record was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online archive. It was declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency under its historical declassification authority. The release date is listed as March one, nineteen seventy‑two, the same as the document’s original issuance. The document begins: “...A special historical study of the production and use of special intelligence during world contingencies, 1950‑1970… United States Air Force Security Service… Excluded from automatic regrading; DOD Directive 5200.10 does not apply… Chapter V – Taiwan… Even before the Lebanon crisis was completely settled, the Communists were instigating another upheaval in another part of the world. As mentioned before, when the Chinese Nationalists were chased from the China mainland in 1949, they retreated to the Island of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In addition, Chiang’s forces had managed to hold onto some islands located in the Taiwan Strait. Specifically, those islands were Big and Little Quemoy, just off the mainland port of Amoy, and the Matsu islands, seaward from Foochow. Until 1955, the Nationalist territory had included the Tachen Islands, approximately 250 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan. Early in 1955, however, the Communists began exerting pressure on the Tachen Islands. Reacting to the threat, President Eisenhower obtained a Congressional resolution to use United States forces to defend Taiwan and the Pescadores. The Tachens, however, seemed indefensible, so the Nationalist garrison stationed there evacuated with the help of the Americans. Following the Tachens crisis, the United States was committed to protect Taiwan and the Pescadores. As for the Quemoys and Matsu, however, U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles said the specific military value of each island would determine whether or not America would intervene in reaction to a Communist threat. For more than three years, Chairman Mao Tse‑tung and the Communist Chinese government declined to test the United States’ willingness to protect the islands. Then, early in August 1958, Chairman Mao met with Nikita Khrushchev, Chairman of the Soviet Union’s Council of Ministers. That conference produced a joint communique that denounced United States intervention in Lebanon. Shortly thereafter, Soviet‑built fighter aircraft appeared, and simultaneously shelling of the offshore islands intensified. Tension was building between the two Chinas, but compared to past confrontations the Taiwan crisis was slow in coming to a head. This gave the American and Chinese Nationalist authorities more time to prepare. President Chiang asked 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 United States Air Force Security Service Record Concerning The Taiwan Crisis

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified United States Air Force Security Service record concerning the Taiwan crisis of 1958, dated March one, nineteen seventy‑two. It is notable because it reveals the United States’ contingency planning, including nuclear options, during a Cold War flashpoint in the Taiwan Strait.

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

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What was CIA United States Air Force Security Service Record Concerning The Taiwan Crisis about?: This is a declassified United States Air Force Security Service record concerning the Taiwan crisis of 1958, dated March one, nineteen seventy‑two. It is notable because it reveals the United States’ contingency planning, including nuclear options, during a Cold War flashpoint in the Taiwan Strait.
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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CIA United States Air Force Security Service Record Concerning The Taiwan Crisis

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