CHINESE COMMUNISTS INTENSIFY NAVAL BUILD-UP IN SOUTH CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700040220-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 27, 2011
• Sequence Number: 220
• Publication Date: February 4, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/10/31
COUNTRY
'SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL Dnt~~UJ
SECURITY INFORMATION' Yv
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RE
INFORMATION FROM
EION DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROA,. CASTS CD
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1951
Military - Navy
Daily newspapers
Hong Kong
1 Nov - 14 Dec 1951
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NO. OF PAGES 4 -
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
During November and December 1951, pro-KMT Hong Kong Chinese-.
lan.mage newspapers carried numerous reports cpncerning the Chinese
Com.. mist naval build-up in South China, espec1.a'.ly in Kwangtung.
.t., 'ng of navel*sonnel is being stepped up in various naval
aca...:mies. The fleet in this region is being strengthened with
additional ships. Naval bases such as Huai-pu and Yu-lin are
being expanded. Fort Bayard and nearby.strategic islands are being
built up for military purposes; recently Ao-t'ou Chiang (harbor
Shan-wei Chiang, Chia-tzu Chiang, and Shen-ch'uan Chiang were desig-
nated as military harbors. In at least two instances the reports
indicated that these naval buildups are for the purpose of aiding
"democratic forces" in Southeast Asia to fight the imperialists.
CHINESE COMt9JNISTS TO ESTABLISH BRANCH NAVAL ACADEMIES -- Hong Kong, Kung-
shang Jih-pao, 30 Nov 51
After an inspection made by Chinese Communist authorities of the various
naval organizations in Kwangtung, the need to strengthen and reorganize naval
installations was recognized. Yeh Chien-ying was thereupon given the responsi-
bility of establishing branch naval academies and training cer+ers at Ca-ton,
Huang-pu. Hu-men, Ta-p'eng Wan, Ta-Ya Wan, Swatow, and Fort Bayard. The ScuthChina
Combined Naval Academy (Hai-chun Lien-hsueh-yuan) is to be established, at Yu-lin,
Hainan. The Naval Headquarters will be responsible for selecting the chiefs
of'the academies and training centers; these offices may be filled by Soviet
naval advisers.
In ad?ition to the Oouth China Combined Naval Academy, which will be
organized on a large baale, each branch academy will train about 2,500 men and
each training center will train approximately 1,500. First, the marines of
the-River Defense Section and the Patrol Section Jeadquarters not given] will
receive 3 months' training; the officers will then receive a year's training
at Yu-lin.
CONFIDENTM1.
STATE
ARMY
MAw
AIR
CONFIDENTIAL
DISTRIPUTION
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CONFIDENTIAL
SOVIET ADVISERS INSPECT YU-LIN NAVAL TRAINING STATION -- Hong Kong, Kung-
shang Jih-pao, 22 Nov 51
In October, about one month ago, a staff officer of the Chinese Com-
munist Naval Headquarters, Hsiao Ching-kuang (1) Zn-umbers in parentheses
refer to appended character, accompanied a group of Soviet advisers,
inspected Yu-lin. He emphasized the Importance of training naval personnel
there.
CALLS SOUTH CHINA FLEET WEAK -- Hong Kong, Kung-shang Jih-pao, 25 Nov 51
Hsiao Ching-kuang was quoted as saying that in modern naval warfare
Success may be achieved only with large naval forces. The present ten chien-
tui ffleetsg are composed of vessels supplied by the Soviets; some being
remodeled from older Soviet merchantmen. As for southern China, the South
China Fleet and vessels under the command of the River Defense Headquarters
do not have effective combat potential and the organization of the marines is
inadequate.
ADD VESSELS TO SOUTH CHINA FLEET -- Hong Kong, Kung-shang Jih-pao, 1 Dec 51
According to information originating from the Chinese Communist South
China Fleet Headquarters, two gunboats and five submarines were recently
transierred to South China waters from the Soviet Navy. This transfer, it is
said, was made on the request of No-shi-ma-i-ting Chinese approximation of
Russian name7, the high-ranking Soviet adviser who recently completed an
inspection tour of the South China area accompanied by a Chinese Communist
Naval Inspection Group. He found the naval strength too inadequate to defend
the area. The above-mentioned vessels were first seen in Huang-pu waters on
27 November 1951 but were transferred to Yu-lin he-bor on the following day.
It is believed that these ships will be stationed at the Hsi-sha and Nan-Wei
islands to stand as a threat to French forces in Indochina.
SOVIET OFFICERS DIRECT FLEET BUILD-UP -- Hong Kong, Kung-shang Jih-pao,
22 Nov 51
After schooling naval trainees at Yu-din, the Chinese Communist Central
and South China Naval Headquarters desired to include several ships of the
River Defense Headquarters in its expanding command. However, Tseng Sheng (2),
commander of the River Defense Headquarters, opposed this move because he has
only the Wu-feng, the Chieh-fang, and a few converted gunboats and motor-
powered sailboats which can insure security of inland waters only. Ships of
the Central and South China Fleet are stationed along the Haii.an coast and
rely upon coastal shore batteries for protection. Despite this request for
additional ships, the Central People's Government has been unaole to supply
them to the Central and South China Naval Headquarters.
In June 1951, two vessels, salvaged from the Wan-Shan area, were repai..d
at the Central and South China Naval Shipyard in Yu-lin harbor with.the assist-
ance of Soviet technicians. Recently, two landing craft were transferred from
Dairen to the South China Naval Fleet for training purposes. In all, there
are approximately 90 vessels in the Central and South China Fleet which is,
however, still without a single destroyer.
Under Soviet direction, the Chinese Communists have placed the Central
and South China Navy under the command of Ten3 Chao-hsiang (3), former captain
of the KMT cruiser Chungking who defected to the Communists. At present,
2 - CONFSOE~fT A,
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CONFIDENTIAL CONFIPEN 1 IAI.
Yu-lin has the following facilities: a shipyard directed by Ch'en Hung-ta(4);
the Marine Headquarters of Central and South China, under Chen Hung-k'ai (5);
a naval pumping station and training academy; and a maritime training school.
About 85 percent of the Chinese Communist vessels are now not fit for combat
and can be used only for training purposes.
CHINESE COMMUNISTS BUILDING MOTOR-POWERED VESSELS TO AID VIET MINH FORCES --
Hong Kong, Kung-shang Jih-pao, 2 Nov 51
The Chinese Communists are actively constructing armor-clad, motor-powered
vessels at Huang-pu and Yu-lin to aid landing operations and sea maneuvers of
Viet Minh forces. During the past 5 months, about 260 such ships were con-
structed at Ruang-pu alone. The completed vessels are sent in groups of ten
to Wei-chou Tao and Yu-lin Harbor. Approximately 400 of these vessels are now
reported to be assembled in the vicinity of Wei-thou Tao.
CONSTRUCTION OF NAVAL BASES ALONG KWANCTUNG COAST PROGRESSES -- Hong Kong,
Kung-shang Jih-pao, 30 Nov 51
Representatives of the Chinese Communist Central People's Government,
Central and South China Naval Headquarters, accompanied by ten Soviet techni-
cians, recently visited Huang-pu, Chang-chou, Pai-tsao-sha, Hung-sheng-sha,
and Chu-chiang Ts'un. The Soviet advisers recommended that the waters around
Pai-tsao-sha, Chang-thou, and Hung-sheng-sha be dredged and that two modern
naval docks be built. Two dredges have recently been seen in the Huang-pu
area.
The Central People's Government Military Council (Chung-yang Chun-Wei
Hui) has designated Huang-pu and Yu-lin as military harbors.
Over one-half of the installations planned for Yu-lin have been com-
pleted, but construction work in Huang-pu has only just begun.
SOUTH CHINA SUBMARINE BASES NEAR COMPLETION -- Hong Kong, Kung-shang Jih-pao,
7 Dec 51
Approximately 70 percent of the engineering work on the submarine base
at Yu-11a has been completed. When completed he base will be able to repair
any type of submarine.
Many medium and small Soviet submarines have been seen in the Hainan area.
It is reported that from seven to nine submarines are stationed at the island.
Approximately 40 Soviet submarine experts are in Foocho'r making prepara-
tions to build a submarine base at Ma-wei located about 120 nautical mile.,
from Taiwan. It is reported that four airfields have been completed in the
W e&.
ESTABLISH NAVIGATION STATION TO AID VIET MINH FORCES -- Hong Kong, Kung-ahang
31h-pao, 14 Dec 51
To increase aid to Viet Minh forces, the Soviet Union has ordered the
Chinese Communists to set up an Aid-Viet Minh Navigation Station at Nei-thou
Tao. The station is under the command of a Soviet naval officer, Li-la
5pproximation from the Chines, who has about 20 naval advisers helping him
direct the transport of goods by sea to Viet Minh-held areas.
3- 1
CONFIDENTIAL CO!1 II ~ ~' q!.
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CONFIDENfiM
HANK MILITARY HARBORS IN KWANGTUNG COASTAL STRIP -- Hong Kong, Kung-shang
Jih-pao, 25 Nov 51
After a tour of inspection of the Ta-p'eng and Ta-ya bay areas and adja-
cent regions in eastern Kvangtung by Wu K'o-hua (6), deputy commanding general
of the Fifteenth Army Group, Fourth Field Army, and Monastyrev, head of the
Soviet military advisory group in Kwangtung, the following were designated as
military harbnrs: Ao-t'ou Chiang in Hui-yang Hsien, Shan-el Chiang in Hai-
feng Hsien, Chia-tzu Chiang in Lu-feng Hsien, and Shen-ch'uan Chiang in Hui-lai
Hsien.
Peasants have been put to work in eastern Kvangtung building coastal de-
fenses and air-raid shelters. Patrol craft from an undesignated port have
been sent by Kwangtung River Defense Headquarters to the above-n ntioned har-
bors and will operate under the Ta-ya Chiang Shore Patrol and Raid Warning
Command. Chinese Communist army officers of regimental rank and above viil
command the patrol boats in the four harbors designated.
FfRTBAYARD BECOMES SECOND-CLASS NAVAL BASE -- Hong Kong, Hsing-tao Jih-pao,
1 Nov 51
The Fort Bayard Harbor area is being developed to meet heavier military
and civilian freight traffic. It is being made into one of the Chinese Com-
munists' second-class naval bases. Tts vast harbor area And dock "rontage,
with Tung-hai Tao and Nan-chou Tao situated just outside, forms a haven capable
of anchoring ships of the 15,000-ton class and can accommodate about 58 large-
and small-size naval ships at one time. Its main jetty affords anchorage for
large seagoing transports. Tung-hai Tao has many inlets and harbors suitable
for submarine bases or auxiliary ports for the Fort Bayard Harbor.
The South China Naval Department (Hai-chun Pu) of the Central and South
China Naval Headquarters has not only expanded the administrative jurisdiction
of this harbor, but also has completed repair work on the jetty and strength-
ened military defense installations. It is expanding Tung-hai Tao into an
auxiliary port and has established a Tung-hai sea patrol office on the island.
About 40 specialists from a "friendly country" and 1,000 tons of equipment
arrived recently at Fort Bayard via Huang-pu and Yu-lin. This naval build-up
is being carried out with the intention of aiding "democratic forces" in
Southeast Asia "to win independence for the imperialists."
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1. 1 Sri 4.
3. )1 .~ 6.
CONFICEH T Qi-
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