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CIA-RDP79T01049A000300050001-2
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RIPPUB
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S
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18
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November 16, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 6, 2000
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1
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Approved FQr Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For' 'lease 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP7I1049A000300050001-2 .Junbcr :Jatc of Dc 'Y .10. 11011 01i xiG JCY 25X1A DATE _Ir 'n; 25X1A 25X1A Approved For Release 2000/05/12 CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 CC):; FI;); L'kL DLI:,eta U",11- d Approved For Release 2000 r IlA-RDP79TO1049QO6O300050001-2 25X1A\ \ 25X1A )/'a#DAs=uM Approved For Release 2000/05/12 CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved FeRelease 2 : CIA-RDP719T01049A0003000501?01_-2,, 99 MAY 8 1951 lL ) I ()BANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND REPORTS SUBJECT: Request for Information on Chinese Communist Seaborne Imports 1. It is requested that this Office be furnished a 'brief mem- orandum in answer to the following questions: a. What are the Chinese Communists importing by sea? b. Where are these imports coming from? c. How are they being procured, financed, and transported? 2. Information is requested on all imports reaching Communist China by sea, including those from the USSR and the European Satellites. 3. It is desired that this information cover the period since 1 January 1950 and that, where feasible, it be broken down on a month-to-month basis. 4. The quantity and dollar value of each important category. (such as "motor vehicles," "machinery," "POL,11 I'medical supplies") should be stipulated wherever possible. Less important items may be included under a general heading of "miscellaneous." 25X1 A 5. - of this Office has talked with of 0/RR about this request, and is available to discuss any further 25X1A Assistant Dire: SECRET 25X1A Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79T01049A000300050001-2 "S A' 4 ,. Approved FQ Release 20SKRU: CIA-RDPWT01049A000300050001-2 Roasting: R Pa.TS DI VISION =a MIN Note: This cover sheet moot aoc o:WwW the draft under review at all times within D/ R. When the draft is returned to the producing division, the date will be re- corded, proper entry made in the log, and the cover sheet and attachm nts returned to the file4 When the draft is again received in D/fA, the cover shoal, will be attached with notation of the date on it and in the log. The Initiation and Control Branch should be advised of the above transactions. No drafts should be accepted by the Editors without an Editorial Review cover sheet. Editors will advise the producing division prom pt7,y of the results of their initial review. Projects IP-213 Received fms D/S Subjects' Chinese Communist Seaborne Imports Date: 10 May 1951 1950-1951 Remarkes 0/NE request Results of initial review ccsammioats d to Divisions Dates Deadline for editing: 11 May noon Returned to Divisions Received in D/Rs 8mmmecr7 of Initial Review fuse reverse side if necessary)s 25X1A Firm] Draft approved by Divisions D/Rs?~,, Dates ~~Cl~3r C w f ~e Chief, D/R gLA__ Date Qf I-" &4k Cover sheet, at s, editorial cents and edited draft will be returned to file upon completion of project. Approved For Release j,~~12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2 5/12: CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AMY' 12 M q 1,951 SUBJECT; Chinese Co isst Seaborne Imports 1950 1951 In 1950 the Chinese ianporte frem the non-Orbit world ,ntod to about 96500 million. Noarly half of these imports oa through Hong Kon China's non-Orbit imports in 1950 showed a 0200 million ixaoreaee over the 1949 total of 03W million, It is estimated that non-Orbit trade mo about four the China's Orbit treaded China's seaborue imports from the Orbit were negligible en the baulk of much imports entered China overland (from June to December 1950 Polish ships, which carried alnst all of the Satellite trade, delivered not more than 56,000 tons). Z. 7[a orta by s of Coaiwditidars a td Couaatriers Rubber, ohomio is (including ph ocutic .n), and minerals and their ma=facturee aaaoimtod for two-thirds of the total Chinese imports tbrough Ibag Kong in the period August 1950 through January 1951. Rubber was imported in y* from I; 3.sya, but also frol is UK, Indonseia, and North Borg; chardeals am n largely from the US, the UK, Hal land,, a Japan; and the US, the UK, Sweden, Qe , Franoo. and Belgium were the n suppliers of minerals end their manufactures. The US, , , Japan, Switsorla , crest Ceara , the U!, and Belgium. Iaas nbourg were major direct exporters to China during 1950. Sia to mid-1960 t 1, yen, Japanee, Swiss, smd Belgian aaxporta have increased ra djly, ale t1B ?zporto have bccome negligible, I3 ayan exports (in US dollars) in 1950 to China s d an inere ss of 900 port over 1942. Direct Chinos* imports of rubber from Uslays began in July 1950, r &ohod a peak of 12,000 toss per month by Ootobor, than fell off to a monthly average of 6, 000 tons in two first quarter of 1951& probably boeau ae of the discussions on rubber z Wort quotas ? prior to W wan an onbargo. Bog rubb Imports from LWAyaj, a high per- aent of which asic re rted to China, have follov zd a a izd1o trend. It is ,stinted, that S ,se w Torts to Chian are ourrent]y reaching the pro- portione of a yearly avvorage of 050 million,, aeraw only 318 million were forted in the whole of 1950. Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2000/05112 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 SECRET Sa Tranashipmente, and LMN. a Ibug Kong is tho major trans9ship1 x nt point booauso of its rail con- neoti.on with South Gld.m. and Its oxcollont harbor faaacili.tieas. In tho fake of the incroa ing flow of Chinosse iral orrta, ooup'1od with tightening export controls in Hong Xoi , several additional tr slxipment points haver developed in ire- portanae. Ltaoaoe for example, which bas few r eatriotions on trade. with Chit a is a growing traauaashipmant point, as well an a major ss=ggling ci.ta, between Bong Ko, and Ghinne The Hong Yong administration still finds itself leg,aUy justified in trading (within th um-its of a fee rcaztriotiona) with !Jaea3.o an a Portuguese tarsi rya Sinoo they imposition of the US o arrgo on shipmcn'ars to Gc-mmunist China in Doooatber 1950, further trasss+ashipm:+zrt points have been nought: Amst?rd ua A.nt' rp, Genoa, and I1 iburg 'in ESaropej SinGaporo and ports in Indiaaa Pakistan, Via, and Indoncssia in than East have bocome t zzasahipment points in t1 Chin traadeo If mn aaport:ea* can makes ahipa enta to rn r of these poiutc, the Chinese will arrange for shipping bottoms.. Belgian exports to China direct and via lbnC Itorag in k:overbaxr alone were 30 percent of the 1950 total through that month; and India?another new tsm ssddpwnt area, has axportcsd to Chin over a million ck leas vlo rth of tires from September 1950 through January 1951. Clandestine trade betvmen China and Southeast Asia is apparently fairly" xtensivee Chinose junky ply between China and Bong Kong, t aasaao?, and other points aloe the a inaive coast l.iz, in particular southorn Vietnam and I: laara0 Ships are engaged in picking up potroleum ssupplioss in remote ports in Borneo, Indonesiag, and Malaya. Hong Kongs LIacao, Indonesia,, or Indochina era oft designated as the destinations on the bills of lath gag, but onto at sea this ships area da.vorted to China. 40 ShipP Bottoms of Chinas InmorLa vino AuCu t ,1950, rfoabor a xpoxrts from the rest of the world to Hong Kong havo been carried predomtinanntLy by British ships; Paananmi?an and Nor- re ian ships oomo not in this trado. As to shipments from Hong Kong to China British bottom are again predoz in&nt, though Chineao-cxrned ships have made about half as many runs a have the Dritiah$ 5o Cho=3.s for Purchases Tho Chinoco are =king purchases through their oven agouoies in tho country of origins through export-import agencies in various oounbries, and through direct contacts with fm.taufaaotuerzs abroad or their reprewitatives in Hong Kong v Singapore, or the Chin waainlande Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 SECRET Cl aols of ~3nencir, Up to November 3950 Chi , Swiss nese,; banks arranged for dollar, storlinga or Iyaw lottgrse of credit opened in favor of US, Europoan, and Asiatio shippers. Prier to the freezing of Cou nict Chinese asssatn in the US, china tranf 3 red largo dollar deposits, largely inherited from the l otioxjata in 1949, from tY US to Switzerlaasds vrhrsnoo payments wore made to agents and ox.? po irts@ In additions t Chi-nose hmvo been recently eraga od in large-scale Mugglin of opium? gold# and silver abroad to supplement depleted foreign o= c recorvese Comers over foroign, exchange in also ahoy, 'L7 recant rapt area taken by, the Chinese trades authorities in liberalizing regulations in ordor to augment foreign exchange ea,raings, sport SECRET Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 SECRET TABLE I VALUE OF MUG KOIIG EXPORTS TO 0131M BY MNTIM Ja w iy 1960 'a JcuU j 2951 h ong Kong Dollars Lnmil) US Dollar Equiva.1onb (in millions) 1950 JQUUM7 93.4 1603 Fobzuy 82.0 14.4 I k;oh 9405 16,5 April 83.6 1418 MY 7604 13?4 June 77.7 1308 July 9402 1615 August 113?5 1919 Sep 173,9 3064 Ootobo- X96?3 39.4 Novembor 19803 34e7 Dsoeiubo 17704 3100 1987 Jenuus7 249 o1 43 m6 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 SECRET TADI II H+?NG KONG EXPORTS TO CHINA BY COLUODITIF.S AND VALUE DURING THE SIX-WNW PERIOD AUGUST 1960 TO JANUARY 1961 (in tbousan& of Ibng Kong doll:") C ct G u 2 0~t Nov Doc Jan Tog a Food produots 90741 130483 219021 11,276 68413 11;0870 720783 Non-food produota 40210 4?728 70064 3,782 3,628 965 .240367 C1 1OVls 31.,343 460677 .42,986 $80003 400621 60,097 279,9626 Rubber and M= 4f aotmws 208307 33xO6O 410816 62,384 540746 770046. 2790368 TToodD .pulp, and i u2aoturas I$601 40361 _ 28,584 18,780 3,883 70788 21896 Hides$ akiva., leather and mart faotu o 308 340 241 379 271 245. 10780 Toxi1az, fibers 2,310 248341 120296 68602 49602 71t362 570315 Torti1es3, finished products 104,408 7,000 118935 94924 158508 184,656 759430 Petroleum produots 10443 10416 10692 1,9985 18369 1;,066 8,9939 Lino la and Iftatures3 190071 26$704 410038 31,9930 270529 38,0928 184x320 I;Itanufeaturea 10576 3,081 2,844 3.,991 30903 50228 20$423, thohiner3r 78881 50107 6,159 9,634 90675 111,356 490813 Vo1io1o3 and trezoport equipment 1,0994 3,079 20960 4,702 66,129 6;,643 249526 IS.rsoe11aneous3 16448 1,0550 10748 2,9647 10215 19829 9$797 Toil c+ 113 . 17 19 ; 198,297 1.77 392 249 0089 1 7 (31 not add up to totals duo to rou tdings Equivaloarb to US 011939976,000, Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 SECRET UBM4 III UON( SONG PORTS TO I3ACAO DUIIIPIGG TIM. T2)NTfS SEIPTffiBt 3960 do I. Y 1951 lars) .tin tb usaxds of IbM Mmg .L& UU Food products Non?9bod products Cl miea1 Rubber aufil sufaotures Wood and otU as Pulp and mono.ruabure5 ie, Oct 3,9378 7.0955 1, 093 18031 4,164 48360 Nov DOC 26300 2,9115 1,033 1,179 48996 4,201 ion 3p26ck 1,29: 13,501 2,0J1. Total 150810 6,628 . 31,222 2,940 282 135 239 293 416 427 390 436 1,138 38103 57 71 269 11,926 Fi24 627. N .chat, akinsy and 57 42 43 leather Laufaoturo of l author T*xtilefis fibers Tiles, f1miGbOd products Fe tro1ou producsto Ilinerm1s and maxaufaOtUX s L pine y vehicles and trans" port oq.u p t 7 7 6 6 4 30 324 469 354 86 1,927 3&159 1,,204 183OG 18323. 1@443 1x316 6591 762 558 18167 967 693 10532 630 757 3,875 1 @166 992 5033x' 545 , 372 791 35 $19 2?381 655 169 300 159 270 10 553?, 636 645 954. 610 216 168 226 220 I,j 862 11 16 214 14 544 38283 267 1,087 . $.. 6 `2. ? 23L a a not add up to to*La1s due to rouadix%0 Fguival p `b!dP 'deease 200Q%2 : CIA-RDI'79T01049A000300050001-2 Approved 6r Release 200DJ h I CIA-RD9TO1049A000300050001-2 Project: 1171-213 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AG1 NCY OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS Project Initiation Memorandum Date : 10 May 1951 To: D/S .Prom: D/R Subject: Chinese Communist Seaborne Imports Statement of Project Origin: o/NE PrObh m: To furnish information as to (a) Chinese Co munist seaborne imports; (b) source of these imports; and Zc) method of procuring, financing, and transporting. Ste: It is requested that information include all Chinese Communist imports, including those from USSR and European Satellites, to cover period since 1 Jan 1950, broken down on a month-to- month bass where feasible, stipulating wherever possible quantity and dollar value of each important category (i.e. motor vehicles, machinery, PUL, medidal supplies). Less important items may be listed under "Miscellaneous." Grica (if ally): For n: Memorandum Di-gueminktion deadline Draft dues in D/R s 10 May 1951 Respon ible Div i3 ion: D/S Internal Coordination: DeRartmeental responsibilities: C1aacgification to benoa_bi ,1 even: SECRET wa to a rorie~.-. Roao)mmended Dissemination: Requester only Approved For Release 2000/0!SRR1~C-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 SECRET A roved ForXelease 2000/05/12 : CI 1 CHINESE C0I'JIMUNIST SEABOF'1E IMPORTS 11 1950 - 1951 1. Summary J,~ _ z , 49A000300050001-2 In 1950 the Chinese import P f ~ on rom the non- rbit world ' at! D'v M, i ae_ t.i~ fir #' n is r- 4,vt..e,.. h At rough Hong Kong, pEt ids estimated that ` non-Orbit trade was about four times China's Qrbit trade. Seaborne imports from the Orbit z to December 1950 Polish ships, which oarried almost all of theSatellite were negligible as the bulk of such imports entered China overland (from June largely from the $ !~ alvt"4 0 the ~$miiirrt.~iMr, Holland, and Japan; Iris Rubber, chemicals (including pharmaceuticals), and minerals and their , , e. S6 manufactures accounted for two-thirds ofd total imports through Hong Kong in the period August 1950 through January 1951. Rubber was imported mainly from Indonesia, and North Borneo! chAmi r.A 1 c name 2. Imports by1 pes of Commodities and Countries showed a $200 million increase over the 1949 total of,$300 million, trade, delivered not more than 36,000 tons), China's non-Orbit 'i~rnias. in 1950 oweuen., uermany, Prance? and Belgium were the main suppliers of minerals and their manufactures, " K The ps Malaya, Japan, Switzerland, West Germany, the u and Belgium-Luxemburg were major exporters uri g 1950 to China Since mid-1950 Malayan, Japanese, t) Swiss, and Belgian exports have increased rapidly, while US exports have te' become negligible. Malayan exports (in US dollars) in 1950 to China showed A an amazing increase of 900% over 1949. Direct Chinese imports of rubber from Malaya began in July 1950, sail it, reached a peak of quarter of 1951, probably-4a" the discussion prior to Ma ay n em argo4 Hong Kong rubber imports from Malaya, a high percentage of which are re- P-4 , exported to China, have followed a similar It is estimated that 14 Swiss exports to China are currently reaching the proportions of a yearly average of $30 million, whereas only $18 million were exported in the whole of 1950. Transshipments and ,~muggling- increasing flow of Chinese imports, coupled with tightening export controls k-c cam o Hong Kong is the major transshipment point-Fits rail connection A with South China and its excellent harbor facilities. In the face of the Approved For Release 200'v g: CIA-RDP79T01049A000300050001-2 Approved Forelease 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79T01049A000300050001-2 3ECREi` l in Hong Kong, several add itional transshipment points developed in importance. ~#? Macaois a gro ing ransshi nt ?goixt, s well as a major smuggling site, between Hong Kong and China. few restrictions on trade with China; tration still finds itse legally justified in trading (within the limits of few restrictions) with Macao as a Portuguese territory. Since the imposition of the US embargo on shipments to Communist China in December 1950, further transshipment pints have been sou ht. Amsterdam, v- c 1 e ,10 il~ Antwerp, Genoa, and Hamburg in Europe; India, Pakistan, = Burma, and Indonesia in the East have become transshipment points in the China trade. If an exporter can make shipments to any of these points, the Chinese will arrange for shipping bottoms. -Belgian 'exports to China, e~d??~ in November alone were 50%. of the 1950 tots thro g ~~; and India, another WLA-A'1" fG G ;through-x---- ri new transshipment ,,, has exportedd over a million dollars worth of tires from September 1950 through January 1951. Clandestine trade between China and Southeast Asia is apparently fairly extensive. Chinese junks ply between China and Hong Kong, Macao, and other points along the extensive coast line, in particular southern Vietnam and Malaya. Ships are engaged in picking up petroleum-supplies in p in Borneo, Indonesia, and Malaya. or Indochina as the _9 -an i d , destinatiozt on the bill4 of _ lading) but once at sea the ships are diverted to China. 4. Shippinglottoms of Im. orts Since August 1950, wet" *"Ow9poe* exports from the rest of the world to Hong Kong have been carried predominantly by British ships; Panamanian and Norwegian ships ,*\next ~t # ,,in this trade. As to shipments from Hong Kong to China, British bottoms are again predominant, though Chinese-owned ships have made about half as many runs as have the British. 5. Channels for rchases The Chinese are making purchases through their own agencies in the country of origin, through export-import agencies in various countries, and through direct contacts with manufacturers abroad or their representatives in Hong Kong, Singapore, or the China mainland. 6. Channels of .hinancin Up to November 1950, Chinese banks arranged for dollar, sterling, or Swiss Approved For Release 2000/G512 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2 Approved Fo'elease 2000/05/12 :p CIA-RDP7rr01049A000300050001-2 SECRET franc letters of credit opened in favor of US, European, and Asiatic shippers. Prior to the freezing of Communist Chinese assets in the US, China transferred large dollar deposits, tar ely inherited from the Nationalists in 1949, from the US to Switzerland, payments were made to agents and exporters. In addition, the Chinese have been recently engaged,,in large-scale smug- gling of opium, gold, and silver abroad to supplement depleted foreign exchange reserves. Concern over foreign exchange is also shown by recent measures dk~Ar VVV taken byChinese trade authorities* liberalizing import-export regulations in order to augment foreign exchange earnings. J: P 2i3 arn Approved For Release 2000/0 RiL-RDP79T01049A000300050001-2 Approved Fo'telease 200 aWgIcIA-RDP7"V" I`01049A000300050001-2 VALUE OF 3)NG KONG EXPORTS TO CHINA BY IK)NTHS 1.9.x' JANUARY _1951 )(r J MONTH ,(in millions} _ January February March 94.5 16.r April 83.6 14.6?, May 76.4 13.4 June 77.7 13.6 July 94.2 16.5 August 113.5 19.9 September 173.9 30.4 October 196.3 34.4:- November 1 98.3 34.7 December 177.4 31.0 1951 January 249.1 43.6 Approved For Release 2000/ 0"5 PkTA-RDP79T01049A000300050001-2 Approved FoMelease 200 jCIARDP7YtO1049A000300050001-2 T X/ HONG KONG EXPORTS TO CHINA BY C00,)DITIES AND VALUF DURING THE SIX MJNTH PERIOD $W-AUGUST 1950 TO JANUARY 1951 (in thousands of dollars) Grou C dit Lu Oct Nov Dec Jan Total y ommo z Food products 9,741 13,463 21,021 11,276 5,413 11,870 72,783 Non-food products 4,210 4,728 7,054 3,782 3,628 965 24,367 Chemicals 31,343 46,577, 42,985 58,003 40,621 60,097 279,626 Rubber and manufactures 20,307 33,060 41,816 52,384 54,746 77,045 279,3'8 Wood, pulp,`and manufactures 1,501 4,361 2,584 1,780 3,883 7,788 21,896 Hides, skins,'-;leather, & mfrs. 306 340 241 379 271 245 1,780 Textiles, fibers 2,310 24,341 12,295 6,502 4,502 7,362 57,313 Textiles, 'inished products 10,408 7,000 11,935 9,924 15,508 18,656 73,430 Petroleum products 1,443 1,415 1,692 1,965 1,369 1,056 8,939 Minerals and manufactures 19,071 25,764 41,098 31,930 27,529 38,928 184,320 Manufactures 1,576 3,081 2,644 3,991 3,903 5,228 20,423 Machinery 7,881 5,107 6,159 9,634 9,675 11,356 49,813 Vehicles andatransport equipment 1,994 3,079 2,980 4,702 5,129 6,643 24,526 Miscellaneous 1,408 1,550 1,748 2,047 1,215 1,829 9,797 Total 113,519 173,864 196,251 198,297 177,392 249,069 1108,372 1P AV Approved For Release 2000/05IS CPi RDP79T01049A000300050001-2 Approved 0"elease 2000/05/ .jjGfiffRDP7Vro1 049A000300050001-2 IDNG KONG EXPORTS TO MACAO DURING THE IVDNTHS AW-SEPTEMBER 1950 TO JANUARY 1951 (in thousands of dollars) Commodity Group i6l Oct Nov Dec Jan Food products 3,378 1.,955 2,300 2,915 3,263 Non-food products 1,093 1,031 1,033 1,179 1,293 Chemicals 4,164 4,360 4,996 4,201 13,501 Rubber and manufactures 282 135 239 191 2,092 Wood and manufactures 293 416 427 345 444 Pulp and manufactures 390 435 524 621. 1,138 Hides, skins, and leather 57 42 43 57 71 Manufacture of leather 7 7 6 6 4 Textiles, fibers 324 469 354 85 1,927 Textiles, finished products 1,204 1,306 1,321 1,443 1,316 Petroleum products 762 558 1,167 630 757 Minerals and manufactures 967 693 1,532 1,153 992 Machinery 545 372 791 353 319 Vehicles and transport equipment 655 169 300 159 270 Manufactures 536 645 954 610 544 Miscellaneous 216 158 226 220 267 14,862 12,751 16,214 14,168 4Columns may not add up to totals due to rounding .0 Total 13,810 5,628 31,222 2,940 1,925 3,109 269 30 3,159 6,591 3,875 5,337 2,381 1,553 3,288 1,087 SECRET Approved For Release 2000/05/12 : CIA-RDP79TO1049A000300050001-2