Beijing has recruited one of Taiwan's military pilots and offered him $15 million to escape to China on a CH-47 Chinook military transport helicopter. This was reported by UNN with reference to Taipei Times.
Details
The pilot, named Xie, was arrested in August after a denunciation that prevented the man from escaping. According to the denunciation, Hsieh and several other Taiwanese military personnel linked to his escape had been on the radar of Taiwanese law enforcement since the spring. They were also arrested.
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The man was promised $15 million and safe transportation of his family off the island in case of a conflict between Taiwan and China for his delivery of the helicopter to the People's Liberation Army of China.
The man wanted to land the helicopter on a People's Liberation Army navy ship in the Taiwan Strait, before offering Beijing to conduct naval exercises near the port city of Kaohsiung.
This would have allowed the pilot to avoid crossing the line that divides the Taiwan Strait in two and serves as the de facto border between mainland China and Taiwan.
Taiwanese law enforcement officials explained that such a route would minimize the likelihood that the Chinook would be intercepted by Taiwanese air force fighters on its way to the Chinese vessel.
Context
The ruling Chinese Communist Party considers Taiwan, an island of 24 million people, to be part of its territory. Beijing has promised to "reunite" the island with the Chinese mainland.
SEE ALSO: China may plan attack on Taiwan by 2027 - Reuters
Tensions around Taiwan increased markedly in 2022. President Biden said that the United States would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping urges China to prepare for war Xi Jinping said that China should prepare for war and is increasing its defense budget.
To recap,
A similar operation was conducted by the Ukrainian special services in the summer. In August 2023, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted a special operation "Titmouse", during which Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov drove a helicopter Mi-8 to the territory of Ukraine.
In the movie "Downed Russian Pilots", he said that the purpose of the act was "not to contribute to the crimes" of the aggressor country.