Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXX, China

317. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State¹

Taipei, July 9, 1968, 1046Z.

3656. Subject: Rising GRC concern over Offshore Islands. Ref: Taipei 3641.²

1. Heightened concern was expressed by Defense Minister Chiang Ching-kuo (CCK) July 8 in conversation with Major General R.G. Ciccolella about possible ChiCom attack on Offshore Islands (reftel). There have been similar recent expressions of concern about Offshores by President Chiang to retiring CINCPAC, Admiral Sharp, on June 20 (Taipei 3467³ and 3612⁴) and to me on June 25 (Taipei 3513 and 3554).⁵ In addition, FonMin’s conversation with me on July 2 (Taipei 3592)⁶ and July 8 conversation of Defense Minister with Vice Admiral John L. Chew, Commander United States-Taiwan Defense Command, focused on aspects of the same subject. CCK’s conversation with Admiral Chew, expressing Defense Minister’s anxiety about possible new ChiCom aggressive moves, included suggestion that revision of Plan Rochester should have an annex to cover contingency of possible combined defense of Offshore Islands, in event U.S. should find such defense related to defense of Taiwan and Penghu.

2. This high level worry about possible ChiCom attack on Offshores is by GRC’s own admission not based on any hard evidence of ChiCom plans or preparations but only on GRC leadership’s understanding of Chinese Communist leadership’s tactics, motivations and psychology, as applied to current international situation. This anxiety has thus far been evidenced only by private statements of President Chiang, CCK and ForMin to top U.S. officials. There has been no evidence of general concern on this topic at lower levels in the GRC.

3. President Chiang has probably himself initiated a great deal of this concern by his reaction to the Jack Anderson series of articles last February–March, and by the New York Times editorial of June 22. His analysis is that the Communists may be emboldened to strike by absence of any U.S. refutation of NY Times editorial or Anderson stories, combined with what he interprets as other signs of U.S. reluctance to take a firm stand vis-a-vis the Chinese Communists.

4. There can be no question but that President Chiang would like very much to take this opportunity to solicit from the U.S. some type of public statement of acceptance or recognition of the GRC presence on the Offshore Islands. Subsequent follow-up consultations sought by Defense Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs are designed to continue the pressure in this direction.

5. I continue to regard it as desirable from standpoint most effective conduct of our relations here that low-key statement be made by the Department’s spokesman that would help to assuage GRC fears about the Anderson articles and the NY Times editorial statement about Offshores. Such a statement could easily avoid any confusion of our clear position as to exclusion of Offshores from treaty area. To be effective for these purposes, I believe a statement would need to be public. It could take the form of a simple response to an arranged question that those islands are Chinese territory and their fate is not ours to dictate.

McConaughy

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CHICOM-CHINAT. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to CINCPAC.
2. Telegram 3641 from Taipei, July 8, reported a conversation between MAAG Chief Major General R.G. Ciccolella and Chiang Ching-kuo. (Ibid.)
3. Dated June 22. (Ibid.)
4. Not found.
5. Document 315 and footnote 5 thereto.
6. Dated July 2. (Department of State, Central Files, POL CHINAT-US)