What did the declassified documents reveal?

COLD OPEN This episode presents a declassified National Security Decision Memorandum numbered two hundred forty‑eight, dated March fourteenth, nineteen seventy‑four, concerning changes in United States force levels on Taiwan. The memorandum was issued by the National Security Council and addressed to senior defense and intelligence officials. It is notable because it records the President’s direct instructions on the drawdown of U.S. aircraft squadrons and related force adjustments during a pivotal period of U.S.–Taiwan relations. PROVENANCE The document was released to the public through The Black Vault archive, with the full text available at archive dot org slash download slash us‑china‑intel‑CI02035 slash CI02035djvu dot txt. It was declassified under Executive Order one two nine fifty‑eight, as amended, section three point five (O), and the reclassification notice is dated September sixth, two thousand two. The release is part of a broader effort to make historical national‑security records accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. THE DOCUMENT National Security Council Washington, D.C. March fourteenth, nineteen seventy‑four National Security Decision Memorandum two hundred forty‑eight To: The Secretary of Defense; The Director of Central Intelligence; The Deputy Secretary of State Subject: Changes in U.S. Force Levels on Taiwan Having reviewed the studies and recommendations developed in response to National Security Study Memorandum one seven one, the President directs the following changes in deployments and status of United States forces based on Taiwan: - Withdraw one of the two F‑4 squadrons by July thirty‑first, nineteen seventy‑four, using Peace Basket F‑5 As to meet the related United States obligation to replace twenty of the forty‑eight F‑5 As borrowed from the Republic of China under Enhance Plus. - Withdraw the second F‑4 squadron by May thirtieth, nineteen seventy‑five, complying with the related United States obligation to provide F‑5 Es as replacements for twenty‑eight of the Enhance Plus F‑5 As by using diversions of Republic of Korea earmarked F‑5 Es as temporary replacements until Republic of China co‑produced F‑5 Es are available. - Withdraw all United States alert status on Taiwan. - Maintain the United States presence at the caretaker base on the island. - Submit for Presidential review plans to reduce the Military Assistance Advisory Group size, staffing, or structure in consonance with the F‑5 E program. - Submit for Presidential review any change in staffing or structure of Taiwan Defense Command. To permit determination of force level changes in the intelligence and regional communications activities, the President directs that: - The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with other agencies as appropriate, review United States communications activities on Taiwan in terms of need and recommend changes in mission, manning, and organization deemed necessary for greater efficiency and effectiveness. - 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.

Case File · ARCHIVE-796Declassified

Filed AUG 5 · 2026Runtime 3 min

CIA National Security Decision Memorandum Numbered Two Hundred Forty‑eight

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated August 5, 2026

intelligence-vault

◆ BLUF — The short version

COLD OPEN This episode presents a declassified National Security Decision Memorandum numbered two hundred forty‑eight, dated March fourteenth, nineteen seventy‑four, concerning changes in United States force levels on Taiwan. The memorandum was issued by the National Security Council and addressed to senior defense and intelligence officials.

Date: AUG 5 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play2:52

0:002:52

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA National Security Decision Memorandum Numbered Two Hundred Forty‑eight about?: COLD OPEN This episode presents a declassified National Security Decision Memorandum numbered two hundred forty‑eight, dated March fourteenth, nineteen seventy‑four, concerning changes in United States force levels on Taiwan. The memorandum was issued by the National Security Council and addressed to senior defense and intelligence officials.
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

CIA National Security Decision Memorandum Numbered Two Hundred Forty‑eight

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Daily Selected Intelligence Reports And Briefs

Intelligence Memorandum From The Central Intelligence Agency, Dated September

NSA Chinese Communist Participation In Korean War.

CIA Today, We Delve Into A Declassified C I A Record Concerning Chinese Military

CIA Today, We Examine A September Nineteen Fifty United States Intelligence Cable

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Daily Selected Intelligence Reports And Briefs

Intelligence Memorandum From The Central Intelligence Agency, Dated September

NSA Chinese Communist Participation In Korean War.

CIA Today, We Delve Into A Declassified C I A Record Concerning Chinese Military

CIA Today, We Examine A September Nineteen Fifty United States Intelligence Cable

Get the next declassified case in your inbox