Taiwanese pilot planned to defect to mainland China with US-made army helicopter, court told
- Island army officer agreed to a Chinese offer to fly a CH-47 Chinook onto a PLA aircraft carrier, prosecutors say
- Pilot was arrested for spying following US$15 million bribe to steal helicopter, indictment says
A Taiwanese army pilot was offered US$15 million to defect by landing an US-made transport helicopter on a People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier during a military drill near the island, according to prosecutors.
But the scheme fell through after the officer was arrested in August for allegedly spying for Beijing, a Taiwan court has heard.
The pilot, identified by his surname Hsieh, was approached in June by mainland Chinese intelligence officials through a retired Taiwanese army officer to fly the CH-47 Chinook helicopter onto the aircraft carrier, the Taiwan High Court Prosecutors Office said in an indictment revealed by lawmakers on Monday.
In exchange, prosecutors said Hsieh would be paid NT$200,000 (US$6,355) per month, and the mainland side would help evacuate his family to Thailand in the event of a cross-strait conflict.
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Hsieh initially declined the offer because it was too risky, but later accepted the proposition when mainland agents raised their offer to US$15 million with a US$1 million “deposit”, if he accepted, the indictment said.
