Senior Chinese colonel defects to U.S.

By Andrea Koppel
CNN State Department Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army defected in December to the United States while he was in New York with a Chinese military delegation.

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A senior U.S. administration source confirmed the defection late Thursday after it was first reported Wednesday in the Taiwan newspaper United Daily News.

A well-placed Chinese official told CNN: "Indeed, there is an officer of the PLA who hasn't returned to China after completing foreign travel. It is now being investigated."

The U.S. source said the colonel, whose name was not disclosed, worked on international affairs in the defense ministry.

Disappearing act

The colonel was traveling as part of a Chinese military delegation visiting the United States and Canada, and was in transit from New York to China when he "disappeared" the source said.

While it was not clear at first if he defected, it was clear he had not returned to China.

Eventually, the source said, "We found him."

The source said it was his understanding that Vice Premier Qian Qichen did not raise the defection during his meetings this week with President George W. Bush or Secretary of State Colin Powell.

But the source said the Chinese government had asked to meet the colonel, who declined.

CNN asked Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue, who is traveling with the vice premier, about the defection.

She said, "I don't know anything about it."

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