Against the backdrop of the Cold War in the 80s of the last century, the political confrontation between Taiwan and the mainland became a major focus of cross-strait relations. And in the midst of this tension, there is a Taiwanese pilot named Lin Hsien-shun, whose story is full of cinematic tension and drama. Why did Lin Hsien-shun, a native of Taiwan, take the great risk of flying a fighter plane to escape Taiwan and return to his homeland, the mainland? What little-known mental journeys and touching stories are hidden in the middle?
The protagonist of the story, Lin Xianshun, was born in 1953 in a small mountain village in Miaoli County, Taiwan, from a poor family. His father was an ordinary farmer, and the family made a living by cultivating rice fields. But since he was a child, Lin Xianshun has had a dream that is different from ordinary people - to fly into the blue sky. Perhaps born with an indescribable yearning for the sky, or perhaps wanting to get rid of the shackles of poverty, Lin Xianshun always thought that one day he would be able to fly a fighter jet and soar in the boundless sky.
In 1976, Lin Xianshun graduated from military school as he wished, and was assigned to an air base in Taoyuan, Taiwan, with honors, and became a pilot. At the base, Lin Xianshun conducts high-intensity training every day, and the fighter planes he flies are important military equipment used by the Taiwan military to deal with possible threats from the mainland. Lin Xinxin's feelings for the mainland are different.
Lin Xianshun's parents actually emigrated to Taiwan from Meizhou, Guangdong Province in Chinese mainland. In Lin Xianshun's heart, Meizhou, Guangdong has always been his "hometown". In the dead of night, he would always think of the place he had never met, but it was too familiar to be more familiar. And Taiwan's propaganda against the mainland is always full of negative and warlike colors, which makes Lin Xianshun feel painful and confused.
One day in 1981, Lin Xianshun's friend Huang Zhicheng suddenly "defected" back to the mainland, which greatly touched Lin Xianshun. After Huang Zhicheng came back, Lin Xianshun learned through some channels that his friend was actually doing well in the mainland, which made his curiosity and yearning for the mainland even stronger. That same year, however, he was appointed as an anti-communist propaganda counselor, a job that exposed him more frequently to negative information about the mainland that was very different from what he had heard from Mr. Wong.
Lim Hyun Soon began to secretly plan his "homecoming". He collects information about the continent through various means, while also silently preparing his flight path. On February 12, 1989, a seemingly ordinary day, Lin Xianshun made the most important decision in his life. He piloted a fighter plane, single-handedly, broke through many obstacles, and flew towards his homeland - Meizhou, Guangdong.
At the moment before takeoff, Lin Xianshun's mood was extremely complicated. He knows that once he takes off, there will be no turning back, and he will become a "traitor" in the eyes of the Taiwan authorities, but it is a choice he has no regrets in his life for him to be able to return to his ancestral hometown, understand the real mainland, and see the land of his dreams. The plane's engine roared, like a cry from his heart, all the way north, straight to the mainland.
Lin Hsien-shun's actions immediately aroused a high degree of alertness among the Taiwanese military, and they sent 12 warplanes in pursuit. In the sky, the fighter plane roared, and Lin Xianshun was like a lonely eagle, shuttling through the clouds, avoiding the pursuing fighters. This chase in the air is extremely thrilling, and every maneuver is full of uncertain thrills.
But Lim Hyun Soon is not just a fugitive, he is a warrior with a firm goal. His carefully planned routes and excellent flying skills helped him evade pursuit again and again, and eventually, he successfully reached Chinese mainland. When Lin Xianshun's fighter plane landed at a military airport in Guangdong, he let out a long breath, and the land in front of him, these people who spoke the same language, made him feel an unprecedented sense of security and belonging.
On the mainland, Lin Xianshun was warmly welcomed. His story soon spread across the mainland and became a heroic figure. Soon after, he joined the Chinese People's Liberation Army and continued his career as a pilot. Here he found a new purpose in life and family happiness, married a wife, and had children. Although he occasionally misses his family and friends in Taiwan, he knows that his choice was not wrong.
Lim Hyun Soon's story is not just a legend of a pilot's adventure, but also a deep reflection on identity, family and country, and faith. Although his choice was controversial, it is undeniable that he put in great courage and sacrifice in pursuit of inner truth and peace. In this story, we see a person's deep love for his family and country, as well as his persistence in personal beliefs. Lim Hyun Soon's life trajectory may inspire each of us to bravely follow our own hearts when faced with major choices, even if the road ahead is unknown.