BEIJING — China said Friday it was investigating the disappearance of an army officer who reportedly defected to the United States.
"An officer from the Chinese People's Liberation Army went abroad and did not come back," the Foreign Ministry said in Beijing's first official response. "This affair is being investigated and handled."
The United Daily News, a respected Taiwanese newspaper, identified the officer as a senior colonel in charge of North American affairs for the army general staff department. It said he dealt with arms control issues.
The Washington Post, quoting unnamed Chinese sources, said the colonel had been involved in managing China-U.S. military relations.
The officer was part of a Chinese military delegation that visited Canada and the United States for two weeks at the end of last year, the United Daily News said.
The officer went missing while the delegation was visiting the U.S. East Coast, the newspaper said.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing refused to comment. China's Defense Ministry said it had no response.