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Following the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) seizure of power in 1949 and the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), there have been many defections in which CCP military officers have risked their lives to flee communist China and escape to the Republic of China (Taiwan) with their aircraft or landing craft.
These defectors could no longer tolerate the communist regime and wanted to run from its oppressive control to pursue democracy, freedom, and happiness.
The CCP was embarrassed by these defections and did not hesitate to issue severe reprimands. They even resorted to using terrorist means to stop this trend of escaping from China. However, despite trying to prevent these, the Party still could not kill the people’s will and determination to escape from under the “rice curtain” and escape to freedom.
Heroic PLA defections to Taiwan
On the evening of January 8, 1966, the crew of a small landing craft with hull number “F131” from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) set off from the coast of Fujian. However, when the landing craft entered Matsu waters, it implemented turning off its lights according to the scheduled sailing plan due to radar monitoring from Taiwan. As a result, it sailed in the dark to avoid detection.
Three soldiers — brothers Wu Wenwen, Wu Zhenjia, and Wu Chunfu of the 7th Division of the former Fuzhou Military Region garrison — took the terrifying risk of navigating the landing craft to Matsu Island, which the ROC controlled.
The CCP’s top leaders quickly took action. They learned through their espionage network that Taiwan would dispatch a transport plane to Matsu to pick up the three soldiers and bring them back the next day, January 9.
The Fuzhou Military Region of the CCP proposed a plan to intercept the transport plane over the Taiwan Sea, and the Military Commission approved the CCP’s proposed operation.
Zhou Enlai gave the order to shoot down the plane
According to declassified information, the downing of the aircraft was personally approved by the then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who also gave the order: “If you are sure, you can destroy it. If you are not sure, you must fight it. In short, don’t lose.”
On the morning of January 9, the Taiwan Air Force dispatched a C-type transport plane to take the three soldiers from Matsu. The aircraft arrived at Matsu at 8:37 a.m., but the wing was damaged during the landing.
Taiwan had to send another plane to Matsu for the rescue. Then, finally, at 3:35 p.m., an HU-type Albatross plane took off from Matsu with the three soldiers, reporters, and Taiwan Air Force intelligence officers. There were 17 people altogether on the aircraft.
At 3:51 p.m., the plane began to fly back to Taiwan. However, the aircraft was intercepted mid-air by PLA fighter jets. Then, the aircraft came under heavy fire from the fighter jets; the plane, the three soldiers, and the rest of the travelers were hit.
The plane’s wreckage fell into the sea, killing all 17 people on board. However, the extraordinary bravery of the soldiers, the crew, and the Taiwanese Air Force was commendable and heroic. They were willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom.
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