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How a Taiwanese pilot’s defection sparked first mainland China-Taiwan talks

Four rounds of talks between Taiwan China Airlines and the Civil Aviation Administration of China after the defection of Wang Xijue in 1986

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Taiwan China Airlines crewmen descending from their plane after landing at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong following their unplanned trip to mainland China. Photo: SCMP Archives

Published: 5:00pm, 4 May 2025Updated: 11:23am, 6 May 2025

“A Taiwanese pilot yesterday asked for political asylum after making an emergency landing with a jumbo jet packed with tyres and fruit at a Chinese airport,” reported the South China Morning Post on May 4, 1986. “Commander Wang Xijue, 57, said he wanted to be reunited with his family on the mainland.

“A Taiwanese pilot yesterday asked for political asylum after making an emergency landing with a jumbo jet ... at a Chinese airport,” reported the South China Morning Post on May 4, 1986. Photo: SCMP Archives

“The Taiwan China Airlines’ Boeing 747 cargo plane, flying from Bangkok to Taipei, was due to stop over in Hong Kong at 3.07pm, but lost contact with Kai Tak about 40km from the territory. Minutes later it landed at Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport. The state-run Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) last night sent a telegram to the Taiwan flag-carrier asking them to send a representative as soon as possible to Beijing to discuss how to deal with the plane, its cargo and the other two crew members. It was the first commercial flight to be diverted to the mainland since 1949.

“An airline spokesman in Taipei refused to comment. Public relations manager Mr Larry Lin told the Sunday Morning Post they had not received the telegram, but had heard the news via the media. A Guangzhou airport official, who earlier denied the incident took place, said later his staff had sought advice from Beijing after receiving the request for an emergency landing.

The cargo plane taking off from Kai Tak Airport and continuing its journey to Taipei after spending one day in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Archives

“A Hong Kong businessman, who watched the landing, said the plane was quickly surrounded by about 20 People’s Liberation Army [soldiers] bearing guns.”

Two days later, on May 6, the Post reported that the “two crew members of Taiwan’s Boeing 747 cargo plane who want to go home may not be allowed to leave just yet, Chinese officials said yesterday”.

“The SCM Post asked [CAAC director Yu Yanen] if the two crewmen could leave the mainland any time they wanted to, since China had said it fully respected their wishes and that they were free to follow – or not – their pilot […] who has defected.”

Two Taiwan China Airlines crewmen, Tung Kuang-hsing and Chiu Ming-chih waving to the crowds after landing at Kai Tak Airport. Photo: SCMP Archives

On May 24, the Post revealed that the “Taiwanese pilot who defected to China with his plane and cargo used chains and handcuffs to overpower his two reluctant crewmen, a press conference was told in Taipei yesterday. The two China Airlines crewmen were speaking on their arrival in Taiwan following a historic flight from China to Hong Kong aboard a CAL plane diverted to Guangzhou on May 3. The plane and its two remaining crewmen were finally released by China yesterday after three days of talks in Hong Kong – apparently the first at an official level between the two countries since 1949”.

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