AIR INCIDENTS IN VICINITY OF CHINESE ROAD IN LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-20-1-28-7
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: January 21, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

'
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/07: LOC-HARI-7-75877 THE SYSTEM
MEMORANDUM giP ar.A.
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
ACT
?SEGRET--
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KI
FROM: JOHN FI. OLDRIDGE
SUBJECT:
t,
uary 1, P72
Background
Air Incidents in Vicinity of Chinese
Road in Laos
As you know there are well over 30,000 Chinese troops in Northwestern
Laos engaged in the construction of a road network headed for Thailand,
under the protection of substantial AAA.
The diplomatic history surrounding the construction of this road is
somewhat murky but dates back practically a decade and appears to have
RLG acquiescence, if not explicit concurrence.
All sorts of theorizing is possible as to what this Chinese road is
intended to achieve, although the most evident reason would appear to be
facilitating support for insurgency in Thailand over the long haul.
Our policy towards the development of this road, which is now only 20
or 30 miles from the Thai border, has been passive. We never make a
public fuss about it and our rules of engagement in Laos are to avoid any
military measures against it.
The Recent Incidents
As you know an Air America C-123 was reported missing in Northwestern
Laos on December 27. This unarmed cargo plane was moving supplies to
the town of Xieng Loin for later distribution to military field units.
Search and rescue efforts were immediately initiated and continued until
after the January 15 shooting at an unarmed Volpar plane on a leaflet mission.
As a result of these SAR efforts, 3 unarmed Air America planes have been
hit by ground fire. In 2 of these incidents the ground fire was probably
Chinese.
NSS, DOS Reviews Completed.
SECRET
? No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/07: LOC-HAK-20-1-28-7
rg, ? qt...
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/07: LOC-HAK-20-1-28-7
SECRET IP
Our Press Line
Concerned by the prospect of headlines to the effect that Chinese forces
are shooting at American planes on the eve of the President's visit, the
State Department has played these incidents in a very low key and thus far
there has been no undue press interest. On January 17, the last time our
spokesman at State addressed this question he was asked whether the plane
most recently fired upon (January 15) had been hit by Chinese anti-aircraft
fire. He replied, "No, I don't think there is any way we can confirm that."
Since that briefing the issue has arisen in the press again in a story
filed by AP on January 19 datelined Vientiane which quotes an Air America
spokesman as saying that Chinese anti-aircraft guns are believed to have hit
4 U.S. planes searching for the crew of the missing C-123.
We believe the Air America statement, although probably correct, should
not be confirmed by official spokesmen and that we should stick to the line
that we cannot confirm who is shooting at these planes. Guidance to this
effect has been drawn up on an "if asked" basis.
Possible Other Ste_ps
In the interest of avoiding any further incidents you may wish to give
consideration to private contact with the PRC on this question in which we
would take the line that we are concerned that these shooting incidents might
be of Chinese origin and that it is in our mutual interest to avoid further
such occurrences. We may also want to ask their quiet assistance in the
return of these pilots to safety.
Recommendation:
That you consider raising this issue with the Chinese in the interest of
avoiding the development of any public embarrassments.
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/08/07: LOC-HAK-20-1-28-7