China Tempts Taiwan Colonel with $15 Million to Defect Using CH-47 Chinook
In addition to the promised incentive of US$15 million (RM67.5 milion) for defection and helicopter theft, the Chinese military officer also pledged to assist in obtaining a Thai Elite Visa for the wife and children of the Taiwanese military officer.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA – A Taiwan military officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel has been offered a bribe of US$15 million (RM67.5 million) to steal a US-made CH-47 Chinook helicopter and land it on a Chinese aircraft carrier located on the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
Details of the attempted defection of the Taiwan military officer and the plan to fly to China with the Boeing-made Chinook helicopter were disclosed in court proceedings on the island recently.
According to local media reports, the Taiwanese Lieutenant Colonel, known only as “Hsieh,” was recruited by Chinese intelligence agents, who took the breakaway island ‘s military officer to Bangkok to meet with high-ranking Chinese military officials.
The Chinese military officials identified as Senior General “Wang” of the Chinese Army, and another named Wu, who is the Commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, met with “Hsieh” in Bangkok.
In addition to the promised incentive of US$15 million for defection and helicopter theft, the Chinese military officer also pledged to assist in obtaining a Thai Elite Visa for the wife and children of the Taiwanese military officer.
The Chinese military officials further assured that in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, the family of “Hsieh” would be given priority for evacuation from the island.
Aside from the US$15 million in bribery, the defected Taiwanese military officer was also promised a monthly salary of US$27,000 (RM121,500).
Local media explained that to defect to China, the Taiwanese military officer was instructed to fly the stolen Chinook helicopter at low altitude along the coastal area and land it on the Chinese aircraft carrier docked at the median line of Taiwan Strait.
It is estimated that the defected Taiwanese military officer would take only five minutes to fly and land the Chinook helicopter on the Chinese aircraft carrier.
“If the Taiwanese military officer agreed to execute all the plans, the Chinese military would pay a deposit ranging from US$1 million (RM4.5 million) to US$2 million (RM9 million) to the defected Taiwanese officer,” according to Taiwanese media.
Taiwanese media also reported that the Taiwanese military officer expressed concerns about the high risks involved and disagreed with the plan.
According to Taiwanese prosecutors, “Hsieh” remained interested in the plan and requested the location of the Chinese military training.
“If the military exercise is beyond 24 nautical miles from Kaohsiung, ‘Hsieh’ predicted it would take 15 minutes to fly the Taiwanese military’s Chinook helicopter to the Chinese aircraft carrier.
Although it would take longer, it would prevent him from crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait and avoiding interception by Taiwanese fighter jets,” according to the prosecutor.
The Taiwanese military officer and the Chinese military continued discussions about the operation, but before they could implement it, “Hsieh” and several other collaborators were arrested by the authorities on the island.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, vowed to bring anyone involved in the subversive operation to court. — DSA
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