Mexico ordered a plane carrying Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to leave its air space this week at the request of China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, a Mexican newspaper said on Saturday.
Chen was flying over Mexico on his way back from Wednesday's inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega when his plane was directed to leave Mexican air space and make a detour on its way to a stopover in Los Angeles, the El Universal daily said.
Nicaragua has diplomatic relations with Taiwan and receives large amounts of aid from it, but Mexico does not recognize Taiwan and instead has ties with China.
The plane made a detour and continued to Los Angeles and then Taiwan, the Taiwanese news agency CNA said.
El Universal quoted unnamed Mexican government officials as saying China had asked Mexico to force the plane out of its airspace.
An official at Mexico's foreign ministry said she could not comment and transport ministry officials could not be reached.
China and Taiwan have faced off since 1949 when defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island at the end of a civil war with the communists. Beijing discourages diplomatic contacts with Taiwan that might be seen as even tacit recognition of its government.
China's embassy in Mexico was unable to confirm details of the incident but said Mexico's position was unsurprising.
"Mr. Chen Shui-bian, the so-called president, is a separatist of the homeland. The Mexican government maintains the policy of only one China," said Sun Yi, a senior diplomat at the embassy.
Nicaragua's Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla, said this week his government would carry on normal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, even though he is part of the growing group of leftist leaders in Latin America.
Mexico Orders Taiwan President's Plane Out – Report
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