CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Chinese Nationalist Irregulars in the Thtti-Laotian-Burmese Border Area
The Nationalist irregulars are remnants of the troops who retreated from southern China into Burma before the advancing Chinese Communists Inhese forces, which then numberedere rearmed from Taiwan and tried unsuccessfully to invade Yunnan Province. After vigorous protests by the Burmese Government ln tha United Nations General Assembly, Taipei agreed to evacuate the irregulars to Taiwan. With assistance from the United Statea and Thailand,ere flown out between3 andeaving behind approximatelyin Burma and part inrefused evacuation.
Taipei again took an Interest ln theafter the Taiwan Strait crisis in the fallnd began to supply arms, ammunition, and special forces ll 11
APPROVED FOR RELLASE built two airfterritory forthe irregular forces and also airdropped sup-
plies to them. 9 the Irregulars enlisted the temporary supportissident Burmeseandjoined them in harassing Burmese security forceB. Xarly0 the Natlon-allata sentore Taiwanese-trained special forces troops to serveadre and to reorganize the Irregular forcea into more effective fighting units for future commitment against mainland China.
0 Chinese Communistcollaborating with Burmese forces,seized Chinese Nationallat outposts lnbands bad been hampering the work of
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SECRET
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joint Sino-Burmese boundary demarcation teams,
[ii)tuiau.Mih. and tne Buriiese ammmmmmmmmmtl'he Chinese Com-lUHllMbllMiTn aunlst security forces permission to go as far
as six miles inside Burma in pursuit of tbe Taipei claimedommunist troops penetrated as deep asiles into Burma. The Nationalists mmmTfMfJjjjJjjjjjj] fled without resisting.
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In the spring1 Taiwan acceded to Burmese and US requests to evacuate the irregulars.0 special forcestheir dependents were flown out to Taiwan. Many of tbe Irregulars, however, refused Taipei's orders to evacuate because they hadlocal women and established roots in the area. The opium trade in the border area provided themood income.
rregulars areto remain ln the border area today. They are divided into several independent groups, and the Chinese element has been supplemented byfrom local tribes.
Since1 evacuation, the remaining Irregulars have continued to conduct raids on villages, harass security troops, and in general, to be afor the Burmese, Thai, and Lao governments. Their presence in Laos has invited charges from the Communists that they were supporting the right-wing Laotion faction. Last week tbe Thai Governmentopposition to permanent settlement of the irregulars and indicated that Thailand might join Burma in an effort to suppress them.
Original document.
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