Tungchu

— 1. THE EMBASSY HAS JUST LEARNED THAT ADMIRAL SOONG, CHIEF OF GS, MND, HAS INFORMED COMUSTDC BY LETTER DATED MAY 9 (NOT RECEIVED UNTIL MAY 18) THAT ON APRIL 30, A FLIGHT OF FOUR PRC FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FLYING AT 20,000 FEET AND 450 NM/PER HOUR "INTRUDED INTO THE AIRSPACE OF TUNGCHU AND HSICHU OF OUR MATSU AREA". SOONG FURTHER ADVISED THAT "THE INTRUDING AIRCRAFT THEN ESCAPED UPON THE FIRING OF OUR ADA UNITS". SOONG INTERPRETS INCIDENT AS MANIFESTING PRC INTENT "TO MAKE PROVOCATIONS"; AND THAT "THIS PROVOCATIVE ACT MIGHT LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE AND ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR MUTUAL DEFENSE POSTURE". SOONG ASKS COMUSTDC TO "TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS IN ORDER TO PREVENT ESCALATION OF THE STRAINED SITUATION IN THE TAIWAN STRAITS".