Israeli aviation firm refuses to confirm secret visit by Li Peng

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., Lod refused to confirm or deny a report Wednesday that Li Peng, Chairman of China's National People's Congress secretly visited IAI to view a Russian Il-76 cargo aircraft being installed with an Israeli airborne early-warning system designated for the Chinese air force, in spite of opposition from the United States to the deal.

Israel Radio reported that Israel Aircraft Industries spokesperson said "following a check, the IAI administration refuses to relate to the visit" that reportedly took place on Tuesday.

Israel's Defense Ministry said the visit was unofficial.

Earlier, Washington had asked that Israel reconsider the sale of the aircraft to the Chinese. U.S. air force officials said the system is capable of locating stealth aircraft and cruise missile and they estimate that China will need four planes fitted with the system to operate 24 hours a day around the year. They also said that Israel has offered the system to India, South Korea and Turkey.

Meanwhile, Israel has assured the U.S. that the radar system, manufactured by the Israeli company ELTA, does not include U.S technology. IAI officials also said that the U.S. was informed about the decision to sell the planes to the Chinese as far back as 1996.

IAI officials have called the U.S. Administration's request "hypocritical." If this is the case, the officials said, why didn't the U.S. make the same demands when the Britrish offered a similar deal to the Chinese.