794A.5/7–1753: Telegram
No. 123
The Ambassador in the Republic of
China (Rankin) to the Department of
State
34. Embassy telegram 28, July 15 and Deptel 848, April 17. On instructions from CINCPAC, MAAG has passed to Ministry National Defense following clarification and modification Chinese Government commitment not radically alter tempo and pattern offensive military actions against Chinese Communists without prior clearance CINCPAC.1
Following actions considered defensive and hence not involved in commitment:
- 1.
- Reinforcement troops on Chinese Nationalist offshore island.
- 2.
- Moves to retake islands recently lost to Chinese Communists in Valushan area.
- 3.
- Air, naval and ground action to prevent Chinese Communist build-up on islands recently lost to them.
- 4.
- Use of air and naval forces to repel attacks against offshore islands.
No action should be taken against Chinese Communist concentrations on mainland which might threaten offshore islands without prior clearance CINCPAC.
CINCPAC considers defense of offshore islands essential to defense of Formosa and that Chinese Government should take necessary steps including increased naval and air reconnaissance to hold them. Chinese Government reminded US forces cannot be committed outside Formosa and Pescadores and Chinese Government must depend on own resources in defending offshore islands.
Comment: Purpose of above is to encourage prompt and effective Chinese strengthening of weak and poorly organized Tachen defenses.
- Reference is to a letter of July 15, 1953, from Acting MAAG Chief General MacDonald to General Chow Chih-jou. (Taipei Embassy files, lot 62 F 83)↩