Want China Times
Date: 2015-04-03
By: CNA

A US military spokesperson said Thursday that the reason for landing two F-18 fighters in

One of the American F-18 fighters in Taiwan, April 3. (Photo/CNA)

Taiwan was based on proximity and weather conditions, downplaying speculation that the landing was a “political message to China.”

“The reason for selecting Taiwan as a landing site was based on proximity and weather conducive to landing,” said Major Paul L. Greenberg, a public affairs officer for the US Marine Corps. He said that safety is always a top priority in a flight operation.

“Our pilots have the responsibility for diverting their aircraft to the nearest approved airfield if they experience an in-flight condition which they deem unsafe,” he said. “This is done in order to protect the pilots, crew and the aircraft.”     [FULL  STORY]