CHINESE NATIONALIST POSITION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000500010034-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: January 13, 1955
• Content Type: BRIEF

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CHINESE NATIONALIST POSITION
NAVY and
completed
I. ChiCom attacks--air and sea--on ChiNat
ships at Tachens (10 Jan) are heaviest
yet staged. Result--Tachens command
now without naval support. Virtually
without air support, facing supply
woes, and with one-third garrison
green, Tachens presently more vulner-
able to ChiCom assault than ever before.
A. Air assault (10 Jan their time)
aimed disrupt rotation ChiNat
garrison. Anchorage was filled
DIA review(s) with Nat ships--sole remaining
DE assigned to islands, three
LST's, two gunboats, several
other vessels.
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B. 65 ktV A fighter and
bomber sorties, raided for 7
hrs., hit all three LST's,
plus DE. One LST, carrying
ammo, set afire, believed
total loss. Damage to other
vessels lighter, but some 160
sailors wounded, 14 killed.
C. Raid caught Nats "flatfooted."
No alert, AA fire sporadic,
ineffective. Requested air
support from Formosa denied
because "weather unfavorable."
D. After air attack, ships (except
LST 202) put to sea. That
night, 150-foot Nat gunboat-
intercepted by ChiCom torpedo
boats, hit and abandoned. DE
limped to Formosa; other vessels
now at Nanchishan (90 mi. SW
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E. Shipping losses, vulnerability
Nat vessels will complicate
supply of Tachens. Current
levels adequate for 30-45 days.
Nationalist Navy wants remove
guerrilla garrison (850) on
Yushan, 35 miles NW Tachens;
MAAG has advised Taipei to re-
evaluate logistic problem in
all offshore islands.
F. Two minesweepers escorting junk
to Yushan reportedly attacked
by Communist vessels shortly
after midnight on 13 Jan.
Results this battle not yet
known.
G. In "retaliation" small numbers
Nationalist bombers have raided
Communist islands (Toumen and
Tienao) north of Tachens. Only
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says raids are "counter-
publicity measures," not
effective military action.
II. MAAG reports no signs Communist
invasion preparations, believes
ChiComs will try destroy Nat naval
forces, isolate Tachens.
A. Although ChiComs can overrun
Tachens , we agree
that early action unlikely.
Two main reasons:
1. 7th Fleet prepared
demonstrate in next few
days; past appearances
have quieted Communist
activity, should do so
again.
2. High winds, seas now
would make invasion
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B. Next Tachen rotation due 22 Jan;
expect raids then, or any time
when targets spotted.
III. Attacks may represent either effort
soften Tachens in prepatation assault,
or effort make cost of holding islands
unacceptable. In either case National-
ists will have problems of morale.
A. Garrison command, as result 10
Jan action, saw support routed,
requests for air support refused
(not for first time), and vivid
demonstration ChiCom capability
disrupt re-enforcement.
1. May already wonder if
Taipei regards islands
as expendable.
2. Morale may well sag in
absence indication or
belief US will help
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3. Leaflet drops on Tachens
(11 Jan) show increasing
ChiCom efforts induce
local defection.
B. Chiang himself has hard decision:;
conserve forces by withdrawal,
or gamble on last-minute US
intervention.
C. Taipei apparently wrestling with
problem now:
1. Chiang
I favoring
minimum commitment, no
reinforcements.
2. Defense Minister has asked
Radford for inclusion . off- _
shore islands in Taipei
Pact.
D. In addition island garrisons'
vulnerability to defection,
possibility of widespread
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subversion on Formosa is further,
although long-range, threat.
1. ChiCom propaganda aimed at
causing defection Taiwan
Nat officials sharply
stepped up since July '54.
2. This propaganda is in form
broadcasts, letters, leaf-
lets from ChiCom leaders,
former Nat leaders and
troops, recent defectors.
3. Main theme this propaganda
is that Nationalists have
no future on Formosa,
"glorious" future on
mainland--standards offers
include amnesty, cash,
land, jobs.
4. To date, no significant
results; but continuing
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US NAVY DENIES REPORT OF DESTROYER CLASH
WITH COMMUNIST PLANES
US Navy sources say there is no
foundation for the report that a US destroyer
fired on Communist Chinese planes in the
vicinity of Nanchi island, southwest of the
Tachens, on 10 January.
Reports appeared in the press, came
from Chinese Nationalist newsmen riding on
LST running from Tachen to Nanchi.
Pentagon says no US ships in area at
time of reported incident. US officials on
Taipei have also denied the reports.
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