CHINA - Wang Wei's fate

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Washington Times

Wang Wei´s fate

U.S. intelligence agencies monitoring the Chinese military search effort for a missing pilot have picked up indications of what happened to Wang Wei. His F-8 fighter jet flew into the propeller of the U.S. Navy EP-3E surveillance plane April 1, sparking the recent international incident between the United States and China.

Defense officials said intelligence reports on the search and rescue effort indicate the pilot successfully ejected after the collision over the South China Sea. But his parachute failed to open and he plummeted to his death. Initial Chinese press accounts reported that a parachute was seen shortly after the collision.

China's government has lionized Mr. Wang as a hero and "revolutionary martyr." U.S. officials paint the picture of a reckless pilot who flew dangerously close to U.S. surveillance aircraft.

China´s military recently called off what the Chinese press described as one of the most extensive search and rescue operations ever mounted by the Chinese military, involving scores of ships and aircraft and thousands of troops.

One raw U.S. intelligence report based on sensitive information-gathering techniques had a perplexing twist on the entire affair. According to defense sources, the report stated that the entire episode was a Chinese military provocation designed to disrupt or frustrate U.S. electronic eavesdropping efforts. The report said Mr. Wang had volunteered to deliberately "bump" the U.S. EP-3E and then bail out and be rescued. Officials dismissed the report as far-fetched.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

Answers

I don't think it's farfetched at all to think the incident was intentionally caused by the Chinese pilot with support from the higher military authorities. Just look at how they are making a big deal over his death in a huge public display. They have locked this guy into a hero role and his funeral/memorial service was attended by the highest people in the government/military.

There is no way they will back down now from their public statement that it was all our fault and the pilot was a national hero. So, does that smell like the whole thing was preplanned for just such an incident, but then turned sour?In other words, is it possible that the reason there were two fighters there was to monitor the "bump" and then follow the parachute down in any possible ejection? Why not?

Remember this whole thing took place over international waters and the Chinese knew exactly where we were, and that we were not within their own protected airspace, yet they instigated this incident anyway.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001


I want to see the parachute. Wondering if it has a "Made in China" sticker.

Gordon,

If one wanted to "escort" a less agile plane out of certain air space, how does one do it? Part of me just thinks this whippersnapper had a death wish. The theory that it was Bourtoulli (sp?) effect from Wang passing too close underneath our plane makes sense. Is that something a pilot would keep in mind? If you wanted to bring down another plane is that a logical way to do it (assuming you thought you could bail out and you had a witness who could said the enemy plane veered into yours)? Or did he just forget his physics?

I do agree it appears the two jets were sent aloft to instigate something, but I think maybe they had a different scenario in mind. Freak out the U.S. pilot by a few daredevil passes and then come in for the final blow, but he misjudged and one of those passes set things off prematurely.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001


Brooks,

I do think the Chinese pilot ran afoul of the laws of physics. He simply misjudged his flight path and instead of bumping a wing he ran right into a propeller, cutting himself in two. Not what he had in mind I'm sure. As far as ejecting and not having the parachute open, any number of things could cause that.

If a fighter wants to escort an unarmed heavy transport out of some area they will just move up along side it, but not too close. 100 feet off to the side is fine for this. Then wag his wings and either give hand commands or even use his radio. They all know the emergency frequencies that we monitor on standby. As a last resort, firing a burst of bullets straight ahead is sufficient to get the other pilot's complete attention, and usually their compliance.

There's really nothing a small fighter can do to seriously upset the aerodynamics of a large transport, which is designed to handle heavy turbulence as a matter of course. It could rattle the pilot, sure, but not create any loss of control. "Bumping" the plane is a whole different ball game and pretty risky for the fighter to try that.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001


Sweetie did mention that Chinese fighter pilots get only about 100 hours of flying per month, less than half that of their American counterparts. They're just not as experienced.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001

As for there being 2 fighters on the intercept, just SOP. Fighters always come in pairs, a leader and a wingman. A fighter is at a great disadvantage when he is alone.

This is standard for just about every airforce in the world.

Just speculation, Wei may have intended to damage the P-3's aileron with his verticle tail. This could have led Wei to have to bail out.

Flying into the propeller arc was not his intention.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001



Shades of Sun Tzu in spy-plane saga?

I HAVE been following the reports in The Straits Times about the US spy-plane incident.

So far, everybody in the United States, China and probably the world assumes it to be an accident.

But I and one student - Petrus Hanafi - in my class on the mind of Sun Tzu have been exploring rather different, strategic perspectives of this incident.

It intrigued me as my ancestral home is on Hainan Island.

A cool-headed analysis clearly shows the outcome of the incident to be the one intended by the ancient, classic stratagem: Shooting one's self.

First, let us discuss the situation from the United States' point of view.

Now, no country, including the US, tolerates being spied on.

Yet given the potential of the China- Taiwan tension erupting, there cannot be a let-up in flight missions for spying.

You can expect top generals at the Pentagon to demand tight surveillance and that the spy plane be wired with the latest technology that is available.

If I may add, it will be classified technology that money cannot buy! Now put yourself on the Chinese side.

The Chinese military, which is technologically weaker, has to do something about US spying.

If you were a Chinese general, would you order the US spy plane to be shot down?

Such an action is extremely risky and provocative - unnecessarily so. What then is your next best option?

This is where the dance steps of the stratagem come in.

You find a fighter jet pilot - and he has to be the best of the best - to inflict a minor cut to the US spy plane.

Technically, with its excellent manoeuvrability, the fighter jet should be up to task.

But why do this? The answer: The spy plane will then be forced to land on Hainan Island - and the technology, or more likely the technical information, that money can never hope to buy is delivered to your doorstep by the US spy team!

Now, this ancient stratagem calls for a vital twist.

The fighter jet has to be the one 'shot down' and its pilot has to become the victim.

Otherwise, the situation will not seem like an accident.

Is this why the Chinese, when speaking about the missing pilot, say that a miracle might happen - even at such a late stage?

Or has somebody slipped up on this last step of the stratagem?

To avoid a furore, let all this be only a hypothesis.

FOO CHECK TECK

Associate Professor

Nanyang Technological University

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,37956,00.html?

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2001


Thanks for mining that nugget, Brent. The possibility that the "accident" might not have been just an unfortunate incident has been voiced but not in connection with Sun Tzu. This student of the ancient Chinese general has reminded me about the Chinese "Bible" on the art of war--I wish I had read it or had time to read it now. Perhaps we shall find out the truth down the road.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I agree, that was a good speculation offered about how and why the Chinese pilot tried to slightly damage the US plane. We may never get the full true story, but this particular possibility makes sense.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

I would guess that the Chinese haven't forgotten their Yugoslav embassy and could well have been looking for an opportunity to even the score.. Still i don't see how they could plan to "bump" unless they were prepared for a likelyhood of having the EP-3 go down..
In any event, seems we now have a "justification" for another arms race and a new enemy identified.. Wonder what Uncle Prescott was up to in China all the time this has been going on?? Didn't Grandpa Prescott have some role in arming Hitler??
cheers
brent

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001

Brent,

The scenario that you offered up would also go a long way toward explaining why the Chinese military decided to make that pilot a national hero. From their standpoint, he *was* a hero. He lost his life, but brought home the bacon, or rather the fatted ox which they are right now ravenously feasting on. Sort of reminds me of the old time Indian raids where horses were the trophy, or a covered wagon.

Just a high tech version of the same old tale going on here I guess. Sure would like to know if our own pilot still thinks he did the right thing to land in China. Also if his buddies in the Naval Air Wing agree that he did the only sensible thing? Sure would like to know. Recon flying is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2001



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