U.S. NAVAL PENETRATION OF 12-MILE LIMIT IN PARACELS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 7, 2011
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: March 30, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
2$47-X
TOP SEGRETJ YEMAN
March 30, 1.972
MEMORANDUM FOR; MR. KISSINGLR
THROUGH GENERAL HA.IC
FROM; JOHN H. HOLD
SUB3JECT U. S. Naval Penetration of 12-Mile
Limit in Parses
At Tab ] is a memorandum from the National Military Command
Center stating that on arch 18-20 - - about two days before the ques
Lion of U. S. Naval penetration of the 1 2-mile limit in the Paracels
surfaced - both USAF aircraft and a U. S. Navy v*ssei penetrated to
within thr.* nautical mu .s of the islands. The stated purpose was to
surveil the suspect trawler, possibly the same one for which penetr -
a subsequently requested.
light of your subsequent disapproval of the request for authority
12-mile liraaiit, it is interesting to note that the clue's..
m? o t when it was brought to your attention. At Tab A
is a directive to the Secretary of Defense that would clarify the
President's intent on this matter.
is the fact that the PRC has neither issued its usual
"serious warulag" nor reacted in any other way of which we are aware.
(When we checked with General Hamilton of the NMCC, who was standing
In for General Dixon and who in turn chocked with General Parsley. as
to what PRC ?'aaltegation" was referred to by the NMCC memorandum,
they suggested that we chock with you!) Given the PRC's post ability to
detect almost all L. S. air and surface intrusion in the Paracels, I am
inclimlled to interpret its lack of reaction to We instance as their deci-
sion not to tag us with this intrusion. possibly paartscularlybecause it
inasevalved a trawler which we suspect to have been of North Vietnamese
origin.
NSS, JCS reviews
completed.
Navy, OSD, USAF reviews
completed per C05106243
; WQ - !$ YZh"N
ACTION
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25 : LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
w , '
TOP SECRET TEMAN
ommendatiq .
That you sign the memorandum to the Secretary of Efexaae at Tab A.
TOP SECRET/SYEMANS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
fi-
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
TOP SECRET/BYEMAN April 3, 1972
MEMORANDUM-FOR
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
$ITBJECT: U.S. Military Penetration of the
Paracel Islands
To clarify the. question of future U. S. military surface and air
penetrations. of the Paracel Islands as it was discussed at the
40 Committee meeting of March 16, 1972, any such penetrations
(a) should be. directed. toward specific, identifiable targets, and
(b) should have the prior clearance of the Assistant to the
President for. National Security Affairs.
Sub-surface submarine penetrations of the 12 nautical mile,
but not to exceed 3 nautical miles, limit in the Paracels are not
affected by the above, and are approved on a continuing basis as
militarily necessary.
TOP SECRET/BYEMAN
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4
N M C C
i T14CJ01N1 gr4"
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
26 March 1972
,1425 EST
Subject: Alleged Intrusion Vicinit /Tuug Island
(South China Sea)
The following information is fu fished in response to
an, allegation by the People's Republi.. of China (PRC) of .an
intrusion into PRC airspace and tee' 'tori.al waters in the
vicinity of Tung Island between Z8 /and 20 March 1972:-
a. The only known US shipsjir aircraft in the area
specified were in connection :.th surve-illance of a sus-
pected infiltration trawler
b. The closest point o approach by a US shipt the
USS GEORGE M. McKENZIE (D 836), during the period was 3.4
nautical miles.
c. The closest point of approach of US aircraft to the
island was 3 nautical miles which occurred on three
occasions during the period.
ROBERT C. HIXON
Brigadier General, USA
Deputy Director for
Operations (NMCC)
Distribution:
WHSR
SECSTATE
SECDEP
DBPSECDEP
ASD/ISA
ASD/PA
CJCS (S)
ACJCS (5)
CSA
CSAF
CNO
CMC
ADDO
CCOC
NSA REP
DIA REP
(2)
DJS (3)
CIA REP
J-30
STATE REP
J-31
PA REP (7)
J-32
PAj DIV
J?33
PAC DUSK
J-34
ANMCC
J-35
J-36
THE-NATIONAL MILITARY COMMAND CENTER
WAaHINGTON. D.C. 20301
SCRT
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/04/25: LOC-HAK-537-7-13-4