I've heard another variation of this story. The broad outline is that the USG thought the Chinese/Soviets had some sort of mind-control/brainwashing technique that triggered these confessions. It was allegedly a large part of the impetus that led them to create their own ARTICHOKE/MKULTRA program. But in the end the CIA determined the only technique that was really necessary and used on the men for this purpose was sleep deprivation.
I'm not claiming either version of the events is true/false. Just relaying another I've heard.
I'm not claiming either version of the events is true/false. Just relaying another I've heard.