On April 22, 1983, Li Dawei, the commander of the Taiwan Province Army Air Force, flew a U-6A plane to revolt and returned to the mainland of China, becoming the last Taiwan Province pilot to fly the plane to revolt. Recently, the reporter of the Herald had an exclusive interview with him in Xiamen. Tall and straightforward, he told us about his deep feelings for the motherland since he was a child, and also talked about how he met his daughter after 28 years, and mentioned the amazing flight that year, as if it happened yesterday.
● Name card
Li Dawei, originally from Fuyang County, Anhui Province, was born in Jinmen in 1950. In the same year, he went to Taiwan Province with his parents. In 1968, he was admitted to the Army Military Academy, and then went to the army to perform observation tasks. He was elected as a "hero of overcoming difficulties" twice. At 12: 25 on April 22, 1983, he flew back to the mainland and was warmly welcomed by the party, the government and all walks of life. He has served as the 6th, 7th and 8th Standing Committee of the All-China Youth Federation, the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the director of the National Taiwan Federation, and the vice president of an aviation school of the Air Force and the deputy director of the training department of the Air Force Command College.
He was the last Taiwan Province pilot to fly an uprising and return to the mainland of China. He spent 65 years in the Spring and Autumn Period, crossing the two sides of the strait, crossing the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and crossing family ties. Due to the special relationship between his father and Zhang Xueliang, he was in constant contact with Zhang Xueliang and Miss Zhao Si from the age of 6 to 10, and his thoughts were deeply influenced. He is convinced of what his predecessors said-communist party is thoughtful and pursues ideals, and he is idle every day, which makes people admire that China will eventually be unified. It took 28 years for the father and daughter to meet after the separation of flesh and blood, but he said that he did not regret his original decision. "When I came to the mainland, I saw more hope."
His growing experience
Influenced by Zhang Xueliang and others, he has a deep affection for the mainland of the motherland.
Reporter: You were born in Kinmen in 1950 and went to Taiwan Province with your parents in the same year. Why do you have such deep feelings for the mainland that you risked your life to fly back?
Li Dawei: I have a deep connection with the mainland. My father is from Fuyang, Anhui Province. He was sent to a temple to practice martial arts since he was a child. My impression of my father is that his kung fu is unfathomable. My father was bullied by Kuomintang soldiers once, and all their guns were interrupted in the conflict. Gui Yongqing, a passing officer, asked him to teach soldiers martial arts. Later, my father was appreciated by the old gentleman (Chiang Kai-shek) and ordered him to protect General Zhang Xueliang.
Reporter: You were in constant contact with General Zhang Xueliang and Miss Zhao Si from the age of 6 to 10. Does this have a great influence on you?
Li Dawei: My father has a good relationship with Zhang Xueliang. Once when Zhang Xueliang was swimming, his sneakers got stuck in a crack in a stone. My father cut them open with a knife and saved them. He also gave him artificial respiration. When Zhang Xueliang was under house arrest in Hsinchu, I visited his home almost every day. He taught me a lot. Once, when I overheard me speaking Japanese, Zhang Xueliang said, Young man, the spirit of study is good, but you should learn more about China culture when you have time.
Reporter: The 1970s and 1980s were the stage of Taiwan Province’s economic take-off, and the mainland just started its reform and opening up. Why did it choose to return to the mainland with relatively poor material conditions?
Li Dawei: My sister’s father-in-law is Liu Anqi, a first-class general of Taiwan military. After he retired, we once went to the beach and slept in a tent at night. Liu Anqi told me that communist party is thoughtful, the officers and men are consistent, pursuing ideals, the "national army" is corrupt, and there are too many factions. I asked China what the future is like. He said that China will eventually be reunified, and Taiwan Province will return to the mainland. Although the mainland is poor, communist party is not idle for a day. It is admirable to build water conservancy projects and railways.
Fly back to the mainland
I was fully prepared, but I also made plans for a narrow escape.
Reporter: Did you encounter any resistance when you flew back to the mainland in an uprising?
Li Dawei: Of course it’s difficult. Because Huang Zhicheng flew back before, the troops were very strict, and the officers and men adopted the method of mutual supervision. What time do you sleep at night and what friends you associate with are strictly monitored. I often listen to mainland radio and ask people from the mainland about the situation, but these things are done very carefully, even my ex-wife doesn’t know.
Reporter: At that time, what was the mainland like in your eyes?
Li Dawei: I have a younger sister in the United States. At that time, she often went to Beijing on business, so I asked her curiously how the mainland was. Was there really no food? She said it was a bit strict, but it wasn’t as bad as she thought. I will also communicate with people who fly from the mainland to Taiwan Province. They say that the food in the mainland is not as good as that in Taiwan, but I know that it is either rich or good.
Reporter: Looking at the photos you flew back at that time, you were really high-spirited, and there was that U-6A "Beaver" reconnaissance plane. Was it an unforgettable experience?
Li Dawei: Actually, I flew from Hualien. I was very tired, but I was more excited. The weather was bad that day, and I couldn’t find the airport. I was misunderstood when I circled Sandu Port in Ningde, and I was shot by anti-aircraft guns. It was a near miss. This plane is now in the Military Museum. A while ago, I took some old comrades from Taiwan Province to see it. At that time, a child at the scene asked his mother, why is this plane so broken? Our group felt very embarrassed. Unexpectedly, my mother replied that although the plane was broken and small, someone flew it back to the embrace of the motherland from Taiwan Province. This spirit is very rare! At that time, we all applauded the mother.
Father and daughter meet after 28 years.
I sang on the Spring Festival Evening just to let my daughter on the other side hear me.
Reporter: In the second year of coming back to the mainland, you attended the Spring Festival Gala of CCTV and sang the song "Blessing You Silently". What was the use of singing this song at that time?
Li Dawei: This is a Taiwan Province song, which I put forward by myself. I want to sing it to my daughter, who was only 2 years old when I left.
Reporter: Later, do you still have contact with your daughter?
Li Dawei: We haven’t been in touch until 2011, when my daughter came back to Taiwan Province and met my classmate, only to know that her father was not dead and she was on the mainland. One day, I received a strange short message, written in English, which was a bit rude. She questioned me and said: You are not my father, you are just the maker of my life. But I know, I can’t hurry, I have to take my time.
Reporter: So, it’s equivalent to getting in touch after 28 years?
Li Dawei: 28 years and 8 months! Later, when we met in Shenzhen, tears fell as soon as I saw her, but she didn’t cry. We had a good chat that day, and I took a lot of photos. Unfortunately, the camera broke down and most of the photos were gone.
Reporter: Do you regret your original choice because you returned to the mainland and were forced to separate your flesh and blood?
Li Dawei: I don’t regret it. I love my daughter very much, but she has her own life path and I have my own choices. My daughter is a Canadian and works as an English teacher in Taipei. She has a strong personality, which is like me. When you say that you are disappointed when you go back to the mainland, there is definitely some, but what I see is more hope.
Committed to cross-strait exchanges
Attracting young people in Taiwan Province depends on the strength of the mainland.
Reporter: After you have been away from Taiwan Province for so long, are you still concerned about the changes in Taiwan Province?
Li Dawei: Of course, I have been observing that Ma Ying-jeou was too weak before, but he has changed a little recently. He dared to choke Lee Teng-hui when he talked about the "1992 Consensus", so he should. What the Kuomintang needs most now is to stand tall. You know, those who win the hearts of the people win the world. What is popular support? Is to benefit the people! No matter who is in power in Taiwan Province, what can make people live and work in peace and contentment is the most popular.
Reporter: Recently, in the meeting speech between General Secretary of the Supreme Leader and Kuomintang Chairman Zhu Lilun, both sides particularly talked about cross-strait youth exchanges. You used to be a member of the Standing Committee of the All-China Youth Federation. Do you have any experience to share in this respect?
Li Dawei: I came back to realize the peaceful reunification of the motherland, and I have been doing this work. The hope of peaceful reunification between the two sides of the strait must first understand each other and win the hearts of the people. The Taiwan Province issue has become so complicated today because of the manipulators behind it. In the era of Lee Teng-hui, the place of birth on Taiwan Province people’s identity cards was removed, and everyone’s place of birth was shown in Taiwan Province, thus separating the younger generation from the mainland. As soon as the books of our generation were opened, it said, "I, the Chinese nation, dominate East Asia". What a wonderful statement! Now, young people in Taiwan Province don’t know much about the mainland, so naturally they are gradually alienated. This is a very serious problem and needs to be paid enough attention.
Reporter: It can be said that you returned to the mainland with a pure heart, but what is the attraction of the mainland to the new generation of Taiwan Province youth?
Li Dawei: The strength of the mainland itself is its attraction. Naturally, it can attract the attention of young people in Taiwan Province, and then connect with each other by culture. We should have a heart-to-heart communication. In addition, the mainland should constantly improve its legal system and spiritual beliefs, which is the hope of our nation. (Straits reporter Wang Wei Yang Siping text/map)