Probably the Chinese aircraft had landed two miles away in what they hoped was a safe spot to discharge their troops.
State news media recently reported that Chinese aircraft had flown five million consecutive hours without a fatal accident, a domestic record.
The other Chinese aircraft inside Tibet had been called north in support of the tank column.
A new Chinese aircraft was announced in 2009.
Were their any unusual Chinese or Russian aircraft in the area around that time?
The first Chinese aircraft did not actually reach the islands until several hours after the battle was over.
In the open sea, firing publicly on Chinese aircraft quite properly defending their own base.
Pacino hadn't seen the outside world since the evening before, when he had been shooting at the Chinese aircraft and the frigate.
And an air threat to the east, from the Chinese aircraft stationed in Vietnam.
It was apparently mistaken for a Nationalist Chinese military aircraft.