New York Times reported on September 11, 1958:
Red China Charges U.S. Air Intrusions
HONG KONG, Sept. 10 — Communist China said two United States planes flew over China’s mainland today, one apparently penetrating nearly 300 miles.
The Foreign Ministry termed the territorial incursion a “criminal act, seriously infringing upon China’s sovereignty, and a deliberate war provocation.”
The Hsinhua (New China) News Agency said a “US-2[sic] type strategic reconnaissance plane” carried out “high-altitude reconnaissance” over Fukien, Kiangsi and Kwangtung Provinces about9 A.M. Kiangsi, which borders coasts Fukien and Kwangtung, is nearly 200 miles inland.
Two hours earlier, the agency said a P5M-1 type patrol plane of the United States Navy flew over Fukien and the coastal areas of Chuanchow and Meichow.Earlier Incidents Noted
A Foreign Ministry spokesman directed attention to earlier protests Sunday concerning what he said wre Seventh Fleet violations of China’s territorial waters. He said:
The “Chinese Government hereby for the third time issues a serious warning on this matter.”
This is the first charge that United States planes have flown over the mainland in the present crisis. Past air violations protested by Peiping have ben[sic] attributed to Nationalist aircraft.
Despite the gravity of the alleged air violations, which hold a potential of involving United States and Communist planes in direct combat, the Ministry’s protest was brief and no more strongly worded than earlier protests directed at the Seventh Fleet.
Observers here considered the new accusation serious but not serious enough to eliminate all chances of peaceful negotiation of the Taiwan dispute. Last Saturday Premier Cho En-Lai called for such negotiation.Envoy Returns to Warsaw
The same observers took hope from the announcement that Ambassador Wan Ping-nan had returned to Warsaw.
Mr. Wang represented Communist China at the ambassadorial talks that began in Geneva in 1955. These fell into abeyance eight months ago when Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson of the United States was transferred from Czechoslovakia to Thailand.
Mr. Wang was recalled to Peiping five days ago and is presumably returning now with instructions on what to say to Ambassador Jacob D. Beam, who has been instructed by the State Department to approach the Chinese concerning resumption of the talks in Warsaw.
An editorial in Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong Communist newspaper, apparently reflected Peiping’s policy of holding an olive branch in one hand and a club in the other. It said: “Six hundred million Chinese are being mobilized and equipped with arms to oppose United States military threats and provocations.”
The Peiping radio said railway construction units were speeding up work in Fukien Province “to coordinate with the current campaign to attain preparedness against any aggravation of United States provocations.”
Primary emphasis is being placed on completion of the Nanping-Foochow rail line, which would give a direct supply line to Communist forces opposite Nationalist-held Matsu. Another line being hastened is between Lungyen and Chuanchow.No Comment in Capital
Special to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 — An official spokesman said today:
“We cannot comment on every charge that the Communist Chinese make against us, particularly since they are charging us with everything under the sun in order to reinforce their false case of alleged aggression.”
The official said no report had been received today that would either confirm or contradict the Communist charge.