The Chinese government said on Thursday it had given medical parole to two US-based scholars convicted of spying for Taiwan, opening the door to their return to U.S.

One, Gao Zhan sentenced by Beijing to 10 years for spying, has been expelled from China and is on a plane to the United States, according to a senior official of US State Department in Hanoi on Thursday.

Another, Qin Guangguang, was released on medical parole after he was convicted for spying, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The expelling of Gao and Qin, despite Tuesday's conviction on charges of spying for Taiwan, removes a major irritant in US-China relations before Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Beijing on Saturday.

A Northwest Airlines official said earlier in Beijing that Gao had been booked on one of their planes to Detroit Thursday morning.

The flight left at 9:10 am (0110 GMT) from Beijing and was due to land in Detroit at 10:05 am local time, the official said.

Qin was also sentenced to 10 years in jail on charges of spying for Taiwan on Tuesday.

"Qin Guangguang was a member of a Taiwan espionage organization and many times carried out spying activities against the mainland," the ministry said in a short statement.

"Considering the health conditions of Qin and following his request, the concerned departments has permitted his release abroad for medical attention," it said.

But Qin Guangguang was not booked on Flight NW 88, according to airline officials. There was no word on when Qin would leave.

The announcement came hours after Gao Zhan left Beijing.

On Wednesday China expelled US citizen Li Shaomin who was convicted of spying on July 14. He has worked at a Hong Kong university. He was arrested in the southern city of Shenzhen in February.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that both academics -- US permanent residents but Chinese citizens sentenced to 10 years in jail on Tuesday -- had been granted medical parole

(Chinadaily.com.cn 07/27/2001)