1981 05 00 OMNI - China UFOs

Magazine Overview This issue of OMNI magazine, dated November 1978 (though the cover date might differ from the article's publication context), features an article titled "MAINLAND MYSTERIES UFO UPDATE" by Paul Dong. The article details the burgeoning interest and official response to UFO sightings within mainland China.

Early Chinese Press Coverage The article highlights the significance of the People's Daily publishing an article titled "UFOs- An Unsolved World Puzzle" on November 13, 1978. This marked the first time such a topic was officially addressed in the Chinese press. The author of this piece was Sheng Heng Yen, an editor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A year later, the Guang Ming Daily published a second article, written by Chow Hsin Yen, science-group editor at the Peking Central Broadcasting Bureau, which questioned the existence of flying saucers.

Public Curiosity and Official Response These early articles sparked considerable public interest, leading to hundreds of letters to Aerospace Knowledge magazine urging the government to launch a UFO study. This public demand prompted the government to sanction a probe under the auspices of a university in Wuhan. Consequently, the Chinese UFO Studies Association was formed in May 1980. This organization, the first of its kind in China, has branches in major cities like Peking, Shanghai, and Guangdong, and publishes its own journal, UFO Exploration. It comprises a diverse group of professionals, including scientists, journalists, and doctors.

Key UFO Incidents in China The article recounts several notable UFO sightings in China:

• 1965 Incident in Peking: Two bright, disc-shaped objects violated the airspace of Peking, a city of 8 million.
• Later Incident Near Peking: A bright, globe-shaped object with flashing red lights was observed by thousands, exhibiting unusual flight patterns including stopping suddenly and resuming speed.
• 1970 Sighting in Shanxi Province: Chen Yufu, a worker, observed a luminous, round, ringlike mass with a vaporous exhaust over a factory.
• 1976 Sighting in Jiangxi Province: Employees of the Jiangxi Second Chemical Factory and residents of Yichun City witnessed a metallic, copper-colored object resembling facing cymbals, spinning on its vertical axis.
• 1977 Sighting in Sichuan Province: Zhang Zhousheng, an employee of the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory, saw an unidentified flying object over Chengdu, witnessed by people within a 180-kilometer radius.
• 1978 Sighting in Gansu Province: A huge, rectangular UFO was observed over an airport at an estimated altitude of 6,000-8,000 meters and a length of 1,000 meters.

Motivations for Official Study Two main events prompted Peking to permit a serious scientific evaluation of UFOs: the 1965 and subsequent airspace violations, which raised concerns about national security and potential prototype vehicles or weapons from other countries. The growing frequency of UFO reports from the provinces during the 1970s also contributed to the decision. The authorities aimed to alleviate public fear and provide a scientific perspective on these phenomena.

Expert Opinions Ching Tao, a science editor for the Guang Ming Daily, offered a cautious perspective, stating that UFOs are part of a broad spectrum of scientific study and that without formal investigation, they cannot be dismissed as mere delusions. Hsieh Chu, editor of Aerospace Knowledge, concurred, emphasizing that the existence of UFOs is undeniable given the numerous sightings recorded in China.

Government Efforts to Educate China has made efforts to provide its citizens with information about UFOs, including screening an American film titled "UFOs Are Real" and publishing books and periodicals on the subject. The establishment of the China UFO Research Organization, an official unit of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, signifies progress in this area. The hope is that members of the Chinese scientific community involved in UFO studies will not be subjected to the same "clichéd cult mentality" that sometimes surrounds UFO research in the United States.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The issue highlights a shift in China from a lack of official acknowledgment of UFOs to a proactive stance involving scientific study and public education. The magazine appears to support this scientific inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, presenting documented cases and official responses. The editorial stance is one of encouraging rigorous investigation while acknowledging the public's fascination and the need for factual reporting, contrasting it with potential 'cult mentality' in other countries. The article emphasizes the growing body of evidence and the government's increasing willingness to address the topic scientifically.