Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, China, Volume II

253. Telegram From the Ambassador in the Republic of China (Rankin) to the Department of State¹

Taipei, May 23, 1955—6 p.m.

831. Deptel 685.² Regarding mine fields in territorial waters offshore islands, Chase and I agree most unlikely Chinese would agree to give British assurances. In eyes Chinese Government ships carry supplies to Red Chinese soldiers these ports, which cannot easily reach them any other way. Further, any assurance to British would surely soon become known to Communist Chinese thus defeating at least in part effectiveness of this measure.

As for similar action by US, decision to provide and lay these mines was taken at high levels US Government, certainly as high as JCS, and Defense knows precisely where mine fields are. Any decision on disclosure location should certainly be taken same high level. We recommend against such US action which would be unilateral, contrary to Chinese wishes and involve violation of Chinese confidence.

Is it not sufficient that Premier Yui in press conference last Saturday³ declared mine fields “covered only territorial waters offshore islands without interrupting high seas shipping” according China Post? Other local newspapers report similarly, Express News quoting him as saying “mining was in waters within three-mile limit off territories held by government, …⁴ not interfere navigation beyond internationally recognized territorial waters limit”. This slightly expands official statement, see Embassy’s 798.⁵

British Consul has been instructed protest sowing these mines questioning legality Chinese action, although (for your information) he himself believes it would have been better pass over in silence. United Kingdom concern evidently relates solely to principle involved since no respectable British-flag shipping companies have operated to and from these ports past several years.

Rankin

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/5–2355. Secret; Priority.
2. Telegram 685 to Taipei, May 18, states that a British Embassy officer expressed concern to the Department at a May 6 announcement by the ROC Government that the territorial waters of the Nationalist-held offshore islands had been mined. The Department informed the British representative that this action violated no treaty or other U.S. rights, but the Department thought the British should be reassured that the mines were within 3 miles of the Nationalist-held islands and not in normal shipping lanes and that a warning would be issued if any were laid in shipping channels. It requested the Embassy’s comment. (Ibid., 793.5/5–1855)
3. May 21.
4. Ellipsis in the source text.
5. Telegram 798 from Taipei, May 9, transmitted the text of a memorandum received that day from the ROC Foreign Office stating that mine fields had been laid in the territorial waters of all the Nationalist-controlled offshore islands and requesting all governments concerned to warn their shipowners against entering those waters. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/5–955)