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  4. Document 74

74. National Security Decision Memorandum 2481

Washington, March 14, 1974.

TO

  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Director of Central Intelligence
  • The Deputy Secretary of State
[Page 468]

SUBJECT

  • Changes in U.S. Force Levels on Taiwan

Having reviewed the studies and recommendations developed in response to NSSM 171,2 the President directs the following changes in deployments and status of US forces based on Taiwan:

  • —withdraw one of the two F–4 squadrons by July 31, 1974, using Peace Basket F–5As to meet the related US obligation to replace 20 of the 48 F–5As borrowed from ROC under Enhance Plus;
  • —withdraw the second F–4 squadron by May 30, 1975, complying with the related US obligation to provide F–5Es as replacements for 28 of the Enhance Plus F–5As by using diversions of ROK earmarked F–5Es as temporary replacements until ROC co-produced F–5Es are available;
  • —withdraw our [1½ lines not declassified] on alert status on Taiwan;
  • —place Tainan Air Base on a caretaker basis, [less than 1 line not declassified] and reduce support personnel as appropriate;
  • —submit for Presidential review plans to reduce MAAG size, staffing, or structure in consonance with the F–5E program, and;
  • —submit for Presidential review any change in staffing or structure of Taiwan Defense Command.

To permit determination of force level changes in the intelligence and regional communications activities, the President directs that:

  • —The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with other agencies as appropriate, review US communications activities on Taiwan in terms of need and recommend changes in mission, manning and organization deemed necessary for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
  • —The Director of Central Intelligence review and assess the value of all US intelligence activities [1 line not declassified] and recommend changes in mission, requirements, manning and organization considered appropriate to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

These reviews with recommendations are to be submitted by April 15, 1974.

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–245, National Security Decision Memoranda, NSDM 248. Top Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the JCS.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 48.↩