From Declassified. This episode examines a declassified Navy intelligence report concerning the Taiwan Strait situation in February nineteen fifty-nine. This document provides a snapshot of military activities and intelligence assessments during a tense period. You can find this record at documents two dot the black vault dot com.
This document, identified as US Intelligence on China, reference CI zero one three three nine, was released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. Its declassification was authorized by a review authority on September twenty-second, two thousand and fifteen. This information allows us to understand the circumstances under which this historical record became accessible.
The document is a cable from COMUSTDG/MAAG Taiwan, dated February twentieth, nineteen fifty-nine, at zero five three zero Zulu. It is addressed to the Secretary of State, with information copies sent to the Chief of Naval Operations, Commander-in-Chief Pacific, and various other military installations. It is a China Situation Report, Number one five six two. All times are Hotel.
Section one, highlights. Quote, one. GRC radar-held tracks of Chicomm aircraft over mainland area has shown marked decrease during month. Average twenty-three aircraft per day. Virtual standdown has occurred in South and East China for past seven day. Four tracks were noted on February thirteenth, none February eighteenth, and one reflected February nineteenth. Comment: Similar lack of activity was noted on February third and seventh, possibly explained by celebration of Lunar New Year. Might be weather. No indication of fuel shortage or redeployment out of coastal fields, although maintenance might be a factor. End quote.
Quote, two. GRC initiated two attacks on Chicomm shipping off Min River near Matsu. GRC Navy reported one P-F two P-C engaged six groups of twenty-five radar-held medium targets. GRC Arty on Kinmen at same time fired on Chicomm boats off Wei-Tou. Targets in both cases believed to be fishing boats. End quote.
The report also states, quote, February nineteenth furnished G-three M-A-A-G an info copy of an M-N-D directive stating countermeasures GRC intends to employ since GRC decided late January to resume harassment. The directive states that, quote, if the Chicomm attack on Tan-Tsai Islands, the C-A-F will in the initial stages attack enemy airfields, artillery positions and vessel staging areas along coastal mainland. End quote. Comment: M-N-D has not requested U.S. concurrence which would seem to be required by terms of the U.S./GRC Mutual Defense Treaty, suggesting that GRC intends to plead emergency clause of the treaty to effect these actions. End quote.
The Black Vault’s archive entry for this document notes that it provides an overview of intelligence related to the Taiwan Strait, covering Chinese Communist and Republic of China military activities. It highlights reduced Chinese Communist air activity, Republic of China harassment of Chinese Communist shipping, and planned Republic of China countermeasures in the event of an attack on the Tan-Tsai Islands.
This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For more declassified documents and to explore the public record, visit storyflo dot com, and find this document at archive dot org slash download slash US-China-Intel-C-I-zero-one-three-three-nine slash C-I-zero-one-three-three-nine underscore D-J-V-U dot T-X-T.
