Intelligence Memorandum
TRANSPORTATION IN THE COMMUNIST FAR2
CIA/RR
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Research and Reports
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Economic Intelligence Memorandum
TRANSPORTATION IN THE COMMUNIST FAR EAST
CLA/RR
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|tg rial contains the
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Research and Reports
T
1(_
FOREWORD
Tbe significant developments ln transportation In tbeEast2 are discussed ln this memorandum. Tbesituation ln Communist China, North Korea, and North Vietnamln the ligbt of current economic and militarysome tentative predictions for the future are made. Thewas derived mainly from official publications and
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CONTENTS
I. Communist
Trucks .
Transport
Aviation
II. NorthII. North
Appendix
Statistical Appendix
Tables
Far East: Estimated Freight Traffic Perform-
ance of Modern Inland
China: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance
of Modern Inland
China: Growth of the Merchant
k. Communist China: Type, Number, and Tonnage of Vessels
In the Merchant
Korea: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance of
Modern Inland
Vietnam: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance
of Modern Inland
TRANSPORTATION IH TBE CCMMJNIST FAR2
The transportation system of Communist China2 played an important role in the support of military operations. In May and June the railroad system performed very capably in the movement oftroop reinforcements to the Fuklen coastal area. In October and November, motor truck; transport provided substantial support to tbe Chinese troops taking part in the attack on India. Water transportupporting role in the Fuklen coastal troop movement, as it was able to carry some of the civilian traffic that could not move by rail because of floods and the military utilization of the rail system. In general, because of tbe low level of economic activity inhole, the transportation system supported the economy with much less difficulty than durings.
The transportation authorities of Communist China made2 to improve operating efficiency or to increase the size of the inventories of transportation equipment. The freight car park probably declined slightly, whereas tbe locomotive park may have been maintained at the level of the previous year. Because of the failure to allocate resources for producing or importing spare parts, it is believed that the size of the civilian motor truck park vas reduced compared with the previous year. Only one vessel was added to the Chinese merchant fleet2 comparedhips added1 and an average ofhips added during each ofrevious years.
The pace of new transportation construction activities in China did not increase appreciably Little progress was made on the Trans-Slnkiang rail line or on other major lines underin the southern part of the country. The Chinese did devoteeffort, however, to the construction of forestry andrailroads. Roadbuilding activities continued along the western and southern borders of the country and in some cases even extended across the border. On the inlandehabilitated Uco-kilo-meter (km) section of the Grand Canal was placed in operation.
* The estimates and conclusions in this memorandum represent the best Judgment of this Office as of For the estimated freight traffic performance of modern inland transport in the Communist Far, see Tableppendix,elow.
Tee transportation system of North Korea did not achieve the rate of growth in perforoance2 necessary to aeet the goals of the Seven Year, in spite of the fact that the railroadwas improved and the inventory of railroad rolling stock increased. The growth of tbe transport sector, however, kept pace with growth in other sectors of the economy becauseercent ur.derfuIf lllment of tbe over-all annual plan for the national economy. In North Vietnam he apparent stoppage of work on the new Btandnrd-gauge rail line from Hanoi to P'lng-hsiang in Communist China delayed the provision of added rail capacity for use in moving domestic and international military and economic traffic. In addition, little progress was noted on the restoration of tbe Has Pong bridge over the Songajor Chinese aid project. New road construction2 was concentrated in the rugged northwest section of the country and along the North Vietnam-Laos border in order to provide better support to the CommunistIn Laos and South Vletaam.
Communist China* A. Railroads
Because of the low level of economic activity in Communist Chinahe railroad system supported the modern industrial economy with much less difficulty than durings. Although there have been co official announcements concerning railroad performancet ls probable that performance was somewhat below the level achieved8 (see Lack of cargo was the reason most often given for the fact that existing rail facilities were not being used to ca-
spite of the fact that the railroad system was nothe system experienced some difficulties in meeting all demands placed on it in some locations during certain time periods. Normal rail movements in southeast China, for example, were Interrupted in May, June, and July by the usual seasonal floods and by whatto be the high-priority movement of additional troopto the Fukien coastal area opposite the Chinese Nationalist stronghold on Taiwan. Although there were many reports of passengers being stranded and economic traffic being shunted aside, the railroad system apparently performed very capably in the purely military phases of the redeployment. Troop trains moved from various parts of the country and delivered the military units at their destinations with little interruptionegularly scheduled sequence.
Available evidence Indicates that the reduction in trainwas first observedI continued announcements related the addition of many small passengerstations. These stations, which probably were notterms of the volume of shipments, were ostensibly added toagriculture. In terms of railroad operations, theseundoubtedly resultededuction in train speeds.,
turnaround time, higher costs, and generally less efficient operations. freight cars arriving in Kowloon and numerous reports
* See the map. Figurenside back cover. ** Appendix,elow.
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the pressevel of maintenance somewhat lower than in previous years It is possible, although not probable, that the freight car park may have deteriorated to the point that accidents and breakdowns may be Interfering with operations- If theof the^ allowed toand if production of freight cars is nh resumed in the near
6 Vf raUr0adsubstan- -tially below the peak level achieved.
nventory of railroad freight cars injOjjWydecline^nghf^ tours. j.
freight cars have beenn Communist China for internal use sincelthough l- is quite possible that at least some types of specialized cerTwereor imported. Information on the production or import of locomotives is not available, although it is possible that enough steam locomotives were completed to take care of normal replacements. In tie absence of any evidence to the contrary, it seems likely that tne Chinese locomotive park remained static
Little additional trackage was added to the Although more than enough time has elapsedorder,ilo-
his has occurred.
was open to traffic as far
as Urumchi, aboutm beyond Yen-hu, the point reached in 1QSQ Work possibly is proceeding on tne roadbed and structures west of Urumchi so that the line can be opened to the petroleum refinery atistance ofa from Urumchi. In the southwest, work on the Yunnan-Kweichow line probably has been suspended, whereas work on the-Ch'un-ming line probably is continuing, although no announce-?J?oncerning its progress. Reports ofa planned raillaSabut confirmation of its alignment and firm plans for the initiation of its construction are lackirw The ^announced completionail linekm line iTaXg, which brought the total rail network toa at the endTf
main-line railroad construction continued to be almost nonexistenthe Chinese Communists devoted considerable effort^ construction of forestry, industrial, and local railroads. * ofnnouncements it is estimated that more than WO km of forestry railroads were completed For the most part, these were light-duty (probably narrow-gauge) railroads located pr jiarily in the aountaincus forest regions of the provinces of Inse-Kongolia and HeUungkiang. At the endorem
of forestry railroads were la service in these two provinces alone. Other forestry railroads were ln service in Fukien province and elsewhere. In addition to the forestry railroads, numerous industrial and localwere constructed. These varied from heavy-duty, standard-gauge spur Hues serving major mines and industries to light, narrow-gauge lines serving communes or small industries. It is not possibleotal figure for the amount of this type of rail construction, but it may have been relatively substantial.
B. Motor Trucks
most significant achievement ln the performance of motor truck transport took place in connection with the Chinese Cccmaiclst Invasion of India in October and November.* This invasion required the supplying ofroops in Tibet and along the Sino-Indlan border from railheads in the rear over distances varying0 The total supply requirement for troops in combat and garrison units was estimated to be nearlymetricer day. The extreme length of the supply lines from the railheads to tha areas of troop concentration on the Indian border caused both the amount of gasoline required and tha number of trucks needed to be of
fuel required tb move supplies for the troops during thc invasion of India was relatively small compared with the total available. It ls also possible that the Chinese had stockpiled considerable amounts of supplies during the summer in anticipation of their fall offensive against India, and the amount transported to Tibet during November therefore could have been considerably less than Uoo tons per day. If, however, tha fighting had continued at that level for any length of time, the requirement for road transport would eventually have reached theaV Lev .
* Unless otherwise indicated, figures ia this paragraph are based on the* situation as of* See the map. Figureollowing p.nless otherwise indicated, tonnages are given in metric tons throughout this
BfSaf-T
Tee performance of motor track transportationwide basis2 appears to have been at about the levelrimarily because of the activity connected with the invasion of India. it might have been slightly below performance1 because of the low level of economic activity and the poor road conditions brought on by bad weather. Much of the road net seems to have been moreby rain, floods, and snow thanI.
The Chinese Communists appear to have had some difficulty2 in obtaining spare parts and tires to keep all their trucks in operating condition. There are Indications that this may have been dueistribution problem, however, rather than to any actual shortage of parts and tires. Regional and national conferences on this subject were held In an attempt to solve the distribution problem. Seme success seems to have been achieved by an interchange of specific parts between regionsurplus and thosehortage. erious effort was also made to reduce the need for spare parts by giving more attention to preventive maintenance. imilar effort was made to reduce tire requirements by getting all the mileageout of each tire. There also ls evidence to indicate someln obtaining sufficient gasoline and oil to keep all trucks This, again, may have been dueistribution problem as much as to an actual shortage of these products.
Because of the failure to allocate resources for producing or Importing spare parts, it ls believed that the size of the civilian truck park was reduced compared with the previous year. It Is probable, however, that production and imports of trucks and spare parts wereto maintain the combined military and civilian park atehicles, about equally divided between the two parks.
Tbe-.rucks required to supply the troopsiDvolvedic, )
r India, therefore, would represent
believed at Ln iJovember 'I'-O'L.ni.n: -'re gore military trucks available ln Western China thai: the eafteflBlaflHB required, and lo addition there were several thousand civillan trucks ln the area which could have been diverted to supply the troops had they been needed.
The total length of the highway network of Communist China probably did not Increase significantly Road maintenance, rather than new road construction, continued to be the most important feature of highway activity throughout most of the country. From the Free World point of view, the most spectacular and significant activity took place along the western and southern borders of China. Roadbulld-ing in these areas7 has continuedelatively faster rate than in the rest of the country. In some cases this roadbuildlng has been extended across the border, sometimes with and sometimes without
S-Eaa*ftt*
ST
tbe consent of the other country involved. Construction ir. Yunnanin tbe areas bordering on Sumaaos. Extensive roadbuild-ing continued in southern Tibet alon^ tCe border near Nepal, Sifckia, and Bhutan and some cases into areas cla.ir.ad by India. The achievements of this roadbuilding program contributed substantially to the success of tee Chinese Cocunur.ist invasion of the To vanarea, in the Northeast Frontier Agency (HZFA)
C. Water Transport
Performance by inland and coastal vater transport in Ccrrmunist China improved considerably during theonths cfpossibly reflecting some improvement in the economic situation at least in sectors and areas that find the use of water transport advantageous. Total annual perfortiar.ee by coastal water transportby chartered foreignnd possibly also by inland vatar transport, is estimated tc hava returned about to9 level (see. Although all modes of transportation were given the objective of supporting agriculture by the delivery cf necessaryand consumer goods to rural areas, particular emphasis was placed on the use of water transport. In areas where both landater transport were available, tbe authorities directed that ^reference be given to water transport.
The increasing use of water transport resulted ir. the re
to service of most of the larger coastal ships and possibly soce o: the inland vessels that had been laid up during the previous year. Coastal ships once again began carrying goods directly between coastal ports and Yangtze River ports as far upstream as Wuhan. esult of the improved harvest in Szechwar. Province and all along the Yangtze River during the fallbe transport of agricultural products returned to tbe normal pattern of rice moving down the river ratherajor movement of food into Szechwan such as had occurred in the spring
The upturn in coastal traffic began in May and June,transport by rail was curtailed because of floods andutilization of the rail system. Traffic in the portsShanghai and the Formosa Strait became unusually heavytraffic normally carried by the railroads was shiftedtransport. Although high water in the middle of the year
the unusually cold winter weather hampered water transport
some
the Chinese shipsf^mamm'amaa' Shanghai Sea Transport Bureau announced that performance goals2
Appendix,elow.
bad been completed by mid-November and that tbe volume of goodsin aupport of agriculture was much greater thanI. The major increase in traffic took place at the smaller coastal ports those in the major agricultural provinces just to the north and south of Shanghai. Foreign trade ports vere congested occasionally during the year, reportedlyesult of poor coordination between the ports and rail transport involved in moving goods to and from the ports.
The use of chartered foreign ships in the Chinese coastal trade declined for the second straight year andery low level. Duhe large number of foreign vessels involved in the coasta' trade principally carried Hainan Island iron ore to the north coast ovement in which Chinese ships do not participate/because the Chinese Nationalists have the ability to disrupt Chinese Communist shippingover this route. , movement of Hainan Island ore decreased considerably and probably took place principally on the railroads from South China ports. Duringhen coastal traffic was unusually heavy in the Shanghai area, several chartered British shios were assigned especially to help move coal south from Shanghai.
Throughout the year, passenger traffic on both the inland and coastal waterways remained almost continuouslyigh level. No explanation is available for this development except that the government was continuing to move workers who had arrived in the cities during the "leap forward" back to rural areas to help the agricultural sector.
essel, the Leap Forwardas added to the Chinese merchant fleet2 comparedhips added1 and an average ofhips added during each ofrevious years. At. the end2 the fleethips totalingeadweight tons (dht) (see. The Leap Forward, which was hastily constructed and launched at the height of the "leap forward" movement inost China an amount estimated to be at5 million. Many problems were encounteredhile the ship was being fitted out at the Dairen shipyard. After the vessel was commissioned int was limited to the coastal run between Shanghai and Dairen until the start of its first international voyage on The following day the vessel ran aground and was lost in the East China Sea, probably because of* faulty navigation.
O-km section of the Grand Canal extending from the Yangtze River port of Yang chow northward nearly to
* Appendix, pp.espectively, below.
boundary of Shantung Provi tbis section representshich was planned to be comple tlcn should be an economic as3 ares. The reconstruction is the cost partepth ofcomparedrevious depth
e was put into operation. Although0 percent of the full restoration
he new portion in opera-of considerable importance to the jrted to have improved the canal foreters (at)fidth ofo.
Civil Aviation
most significant events in civil aviation in Communist China2 were the upgrading of the Civil Aviation Administration of Ccina (CAAC)ureau directly subordinate to the State Council and toe reports of China's continued interest in the purchase ofloc aircraft. In2 it was reported that the State Council hadesolution to change the status of the CAAC from aof the Ministry of Communicationsureau directly underte Council. This change which restored the CAAC to itsstatus, may indicate that renewed attention will be given to civix aviation in the near future.
These aircraft wi Ltional routes.
In spite of current economic difficulties the Chinese Comnunists have apparently been interested ir. purchasing additional non-Bloc ai--craft ever since the Victers Vi count sale contract was negotiated fficials of Communist China reportedly inspected such aircraft S3 the De Haviland Comet and Sud-Aviation's Caravelle. In3 it was reported that Chinese representatives had arrivedhe UK to inspect lU turboprop Bristol Britannia aircraft offered for sale by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Apparently the Chinese are still dissatisfied with the three Soviet Il-lBaircraft first introduced into domestic service These aircraft, which were withdrawn from regular servicereused only for weekly scheduled international flights to Irkutsk iH._and_fgr_soecial VIP or dossc>eduled flights on domestic rou-es '
little information concerning the performance of the civil air fleet is available, i- is unlikely that civil air transport performedignificantly higher rate2 than In the previous year. In addition, there were no reports of extensive improvements
the Far Bast. Negot were concluded in J, ing for flights, though the Chinese Indonesiand it is unlikely
of air facilities aad, as far as is known, the network of civil air routes was not expanded significantly. hinese Communist negotiations for air agreements were again confined to countries of
tions with the "neutralist" government ofnd an air agreement was signed provld-or irregular, along agreed air routes. iscussed air agreements with Cambodia and agreements with these countries wereegotiations were successfully concluded.
Worth Korea
The North Korean the rate of growth (see. In million tons wasillion tons, modes of transportati of the transport sect Statistical Board meats of all thehis sector kept pace wi transportation requirercent
transportation system failed to achieve2 essary to aeet the goals of the Seven Year Plan case of the railroads, an increase ofomparedlanned increase2 of distribution of tons carried among the various remained almost unchanged. Despite the failure to achieve planned rates of growth, the Central that "the rapidly growing transport recuire-of the national economy were satisfactorily indicates that the growth of the transport growth in other sectors of the economy and that ts proved to be smaller than expected because llaent of the over-all annual economic plan.
increasesercent in freight carsercent in locomotivesark of0 freight carst the end Since it appears that only lit locomotives were added to the park, the goal of producinglectric locomotives2 apparently was not achieved. The truck park may have increased by as muchnitsotal0 units. Increases in performance2 in both rail and highway transport probably were due primarily to increases in the number of freight cars, locomotives, and trucks available rather than to any significant improvements in operating efficiency.
2 tha Horth Koreans claimed that the railroad network was both expanded snd improved. According to officialfS-kB section of line from Kimcb'aek to Tench1 on along the central section of the east coast was electrified. This achievement isless than announced plans for electrification2 and much less than tbe rate necessary to achieve the goal of the Seven Year Plan which callsm of main-line to be electrified. The regime also announced the conversion from narrow to standard gauge
* Appendix,elow.
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of tee line extending to Sinch'on in the southwest and claimed that construction ofkm line from Ch'ongjin to Najin along the northeast coast near the Soviet border vas successfully carried out. There is some evidence, however, to indicate that the Cfongjin-Kaji line was not in operation as of- There were no claims of expansion of the highway or water transport networks
III. North Vietnam
la view of toe general lack of information on transportation lr. Horth Vietnam2 as welleport that the transport sector was "encountering difficulties" as late as tbe end of October, it is probable that the sector did not acaieve notable result! during the year (see. Aside from peer crcp years ln North Vietnam, the apparent slowdown la the rate of growth of transport performanceay have been due in some measure to the decline of economic activity in Commuaisi China, since China-to-China railvia North Vietnam andorth Vietnamese tradearge percentage of North Vietnam's rail traffic.
Of considerable significance in the transportation picture in North Vietnam2 was the apparent steppage of work on the new standard-gauge rail line from Hanoi to P'ing-hsiang, China. Some sections of the new roadbed far this line, which was beingwith Chinese Communist aid, reportedly have been turned over to agricultural purposes. 1 it was reported that at leastorkers were employed on this project, which was due tob. Another Chinese aid project, the reconstruction of the Ham Rong bridge over the Song Ha south of Hanoi on the east coast, which reportedly was scheduled for completion inasslowly if at all since preliminary work was reportedast new road construction and rehabilitation2 was concentrated in the rugged northwest section of the country and along the Northaos border in order to provide better support to theelements in Laos and South Vietnam. m of narrow earth roads or tracks, usable mainly by carts, were constructed In the northwest. Along the Laotian border, road reconstruction reportedly was underway onndeading into central Laos. Init is likely that some road construction or improvement was underway in North Vietnam ln the area bordering the Sam Meua region and the Phong Saly province in northern Laos. In spite ofinvestment in network rehabilitation, the primary road system of North Vietnam remains of limited capacity and subject toduring the wet season.
* Appendix,elow.
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The main effort in transportation3 reportedly will be the development of inland waterway transportation. In addition, the port of Haiphong, North Vietnam's most important port, will he improved with aid from the USSR. Soviet aid in the form of equipment andassistance probably will also be extended to improve civil air transport.
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Table 1
Communist Far East: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance of Modern Inland Transport
1 2
Billion Metric Ton-Kiloceters
Communist China North Korea North Vietnam
9
7
0
I
5
b/
Metric Tons
China North Korea North Vietnam
2
5
6
8
9
b/ 5 1 . . .
tbe performance of railroads, motor trucks, and theand merchant or coastal fleets of Communist China, North Korea,Vietnam. For limitations of the data presented for Northelow.
as measured in both ton-kilometers and tons carried,export, import, and transit traffic.
addition to the duplication of tonnage created when traffic isby more than one mode of transportation, totals also Includeof foreign trade traffic moving between Communist China, NorthNorth Vietnam.
Table 2
Communist China: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance of Modern Inland
Mode of Transportation 7 6 9
Billion Metric Ton-Kilometers
Railroads Motor trucks Inland water fleet Merchant fleet a/
U.27
.
b/
Metric Tons Carried
Motor trucks Inland water fleet Merchant fleet a/
O0
.
ships Foreign ships
N.A.
N.A.
b/ c/
traffic only, carried in Chinese and charteredthe two Chinese cargo ships used in international trade carriedofonshipping line established betweenports and the Bay of Bengal.
as measured in both ton-kilometers and tons carried,export, import, and transit traffic.
reflect duplication of tonnage when traffic is carried byone mode of transportation.
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3
Cocumir.ist China: Growth of the Merchant
Fleet status,7
Acquisitions8 rron donestic sources From Bloc countries From Free World countries
Fleet status, 8
Acquisitions9 From domestic sources From Bloc countries From Free World countries
Fleet status,9
Acquisitions0 From domestic sources From Bloc countries From Free World countries
Sold0
To Bloc country
Fleet status,0
Acquisitions1 Froa domestic sources From Bloc countries From Free World countries
.Vuaber of Vessels
6 10
6
10
2
7
2
5
3
a ii,<
0
li
13^
0
Data refer tc vesselsST or =oreWT or more).
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Table 3
Coemunist China: Growth of the MerchantContinued)
Number
Fleet status,ecember
Acquisitions in
From domestic
From Bloc
Transferred2
To Bloc
Fleet status,ecember
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Table 4
Communist China: Type, Number, and Tonnage of Vessels in the Merchant Fleet
Cargo
GRT
WT
Kuraber CRT
DWT
CRT
DWT
5
Data refer to vesselsRT or0 DWT or. In addition, the tanker fleet includes at least one and possibly two tankers of lessRT.
Table 5
North Korea: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance of Modern Inland
Mode of Transportation
Metric
trucks
water
coastal fleets a/
b/
Metric
Carried
trucks
water
coastal fleets a/
b/ cj
for performance by the Inlwrd water fleet In North Koreate separated from performance by tbe coastal fleet. Performance by the inland water fleet, however, ismall part of the total water transport performance.
as measured in both ton-kilometers and tons carried,domestic, export, import, and transit traffic. -
reflect duplication of tonnage when traffic ia carriedthan one mode of transportation.
Table 6
North Vietnam: Estimated Freight Traffic Performance of Modern Inland
Mode of Transportation 7 6 9 0 1 2
Billion Metric Ton-Kilometers
Railroads
trucks
water fleet
fleet
a/
Metric Tons Carried
trucks
water fleet
fleet
a/ b/
as measured in both ton-kilometers and tons carried,domestic, export, import, and transit traffic.
reflect duplication of tonnage when traffic is carriedthan one mode of transportation.
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Figure 1
Original document.
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