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