Taiwan Leader's Plane Targeted by Chinese Fighter Jets: ReportJ

Nov 11, 2004
Space War
TAIPEI (AFP)

Fighter jets from China locked on to a plane carrying Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian during a trip over the Taiwan Strait, it was reported here Thursday.

However, Taiwan's defense ministry denied the report, saying it was "untrue".

The United Daily News, quoting unidentified Chinese defense sources, said Chen's official Air Force One plane had been heading for Penghu, an island group in the strait, on September 27 when it was targeted by the warplanes from China.

A number of Taiwan's air force jets were scrambled after Chinese warplanes passed the hypothetical middle line of the strait, the 150-kilometer (95-mile) wide waterway separating the two rivals, the report said.

Air Force One arrived in Penghu 15 minutes behind schedule as 28 Chinese fighter jets were hovering over the strait, the paper said.

Vice President Annette Lu's plane was also targeted by Chinese fighter jets when she was flying to Penghu on October 2, it said, quoting mainland sources as saying Beijing had been trying to demonstrate its capability of defending its "sovereignty" over Taiwan, rather than initiating an attack.

However, the defense ministry said in a statement that Chinese military aircraft patrolled near the middle of the Taiwan Strait on the morning September 27 but were not present in the afternoon, when Chen flew to Penghu.

Tensions between the two sides have been rising since the re-election of the independence-leaning Chen, with Beijing renewing its long-standing vow to take the island by force should it declare formal independence.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting to be reunified despite their split in 1949 after a civil war.

The report came one day after Chen called for the establishment of a "buffer zone" in the strait where military aircraft and vessels from both sides must not enter without advance notice to avoid unexpected clashes.

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