A U.S. military general who was on the scene to assist the transfer came storming up the stairs and demanded to speak with the captain. . . . The general said the entire mission was now in jeopardy. The pilot had put the R.O.C. designation on a document called a general declaration required of all international flights. Mr. Greider wrote. The Chinese were very upset over this.
China considers democratic Taiwan a breakaway province.
The pilots fixed the problem with a pen. Continental spokesman Dave Messing confirmed the account. The Pentagon is forbidding soldiers from wearing Chinese-made berets. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, Maryland Republican and a House Armed Services Committee member, and other lawmakers yesterday announced they will introduce legislation that would prohibit the Army from issuing berets of any color to general Army personnel. Congressional aides say the bill faces an uphill fight for passage, since Congress traditionally gives the services the prerogative to make changes in attire.