OFFSHORE ISLAND SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01172R000300240008-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 3, 1955
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2007/09/14: CIA-RDP91T01172R000300240008-6
COPY
State Dept. review completed
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
3 February 1955
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director (Intelligence)
SUBJECT: Offshore Island Situation
USAF, DIA review(s) completed.
General
The US Far East Air Force reports that the presence of
MIG-17 jet fighters at Chiahsing airfield, 45 miles southwest
of Shanghai, has been confirmed. These are the first such planes
identified in Communist China.
The MIG-17 is faster and can fly at higher altitudes than the
MIG-15. Its combat radius--about 400 miles--is approximately 50
miles greater than the MIG-15.
Based at Chiahsing, the MIG-17's are within range of the
fighting near the Tachens.
Tachens
On 31 January, Chinese Communist artillery on Ichiang fired
28 rounds at Chinghsu, an unoccupied islet 2-1/2 miles northwest
of Upper Tachen. There has been recent evidence of Chinese
Communist patrols landing on Chinghsu. The Communists may plan
to occupy this island and use it as a post for observation of
the Tachens.
On the evening of 31 January an unescorted Nationalist LSM
with supplies for the Tachens'was intercepted 35 miles southeast
of Tachen by six Communist patrol craft. The LSM was forced to
retire to the southeast. The Tachen defense command ordered the
LSM again to attempt entry. It was attacked again, however,
and was forced to return to Nanchishan. This illustrates
the unchallenged Chinese Communist control of Tachen waters
and the extreme difficulty of supplying the Nationalist
garrison on Tachens.
SU PIIMSE FOR DECLASSIFICATION nCTTr
Approved For Release 2007/09/14: CIA-RDP91T01172R000300240008-6
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Pccwm,i t Na. ------7Z-------------
No Clange In Class.
^ iecla~s;iled
Class. Charged Tc: TS S C
Batt: /7_
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N
Matsus
Negative.
uemo s
Negative.
Prospects for Cease-fire
Radio Peiping has remained silent as to whether Communist
China will accept an invitation to send representatives to
take part in the UN debate on current hostilities in the off-
shore islands area. However, the barrage of attacks on the
New Zealand proposal continued.
HUNTINGTON D. SHELDON
Assistant Director
Current.Intelligence
Approved For Release 2007/09/14: CIA-RDP91T01172R000300240008-6 25X1