Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XVIII, China, 1973–1976

156. National Security Decision Memorandum 339¹

Washington, September 20, 1976.

TO

• The Secretary of State
• The Secretary of Defense
• The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

• U.S. Force Reductions on Taiwan

The President has approved the following:

• —A manpower reduction on Taiwan to a ceiling of not more than 1400 by December 31, 1976 of Defense Department personnel, military as well as civilian. (This ceiling does not apply to those assigned to the American Embassy and contractual personnel, including those associated with the remoting facility to be installed at Shu Lin Kou).
• —Notification to Embassy Taipei in advance of specific drawdowns.
• —An injunction against the total withdrawal during 1976 of any single unit or activity without prior NSC approval.

[8 lines not declassified]

Brent Scowcroft

1. Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–67 and Box–68, NSDM 339. Top Secret; Umbra; Sensitive. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.