|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 20 January 2002 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
China says president's jet bugged - Financial Times LONDON, Saturday (Reuters) China has said its intelligence officers found more than 20 spying devices in a Boeing 767 meant to become President Jiang Zemin's official plane after it was delivered from the U.S., the Financial Times said on Saturday. Citing Chinese officials, the newspaper said it was unclear when the aircraft was fitted with the bugs, said to be tiny and operated by satellite. The devices were detected after the plane emitted a strange static whine during test flights in China in September, shortly after it was delivered. One device was found in a lavatory and another in the headboard of the presidential bed. The discovery came ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President George W. Bush and Jiang in Beijing next month. The Chinese president was said to be furious about the find, the FT said. The aircraft was made at the Boeing factory in Seattle and then fitted with VIP equipment and upholstery by another company. The plane was under surveillance by Chinese officials throughout, the newspaper said. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on the report. Chinese officials said the security forces had launched an investigation into possible negligence and some 20 air force officers had been held for questioning, the FT said. The U.S. and China clashed over espionage issues in April last year when a Chinese fighter jet and U.S. spy plane collided over the South China Sea, resulting in the death of the Chinese pilot and the grounding of the U.S. plane in China. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
