State Department Report on China and Aircraft
 
(Source : US State Department ; issued April 3, 2001)
Powell Pleased U.S. Diplomats Meeting With U.S. Crew Members 
 
 
Secretary of State Colin Powell told journalists mid-day April 3 in Key West, Florida that U.S. diplomats were currently meeting with the 24 crew members of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane that made an emergency landing on the Chinese island of Hainan late March 31 Washington time following a collision with a Chinese fighter jet.

Following a morning meeting in Key West with the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Powell took questions from reporters.

Asked about the situation regarding the 24 crew members and the U.S. plane on Hainan Island in China, Powell said:

The latest information I have is that our consular and attache officials are now meeting with the crew members all together at one time. They will have a meeting for about 40 minutes. I don't have a report of that meeting but I am pleased that it is taking place. I hope that is the beginning of an end to this incident. I hope that this meeting will lead to the rapid release of all of the members of the crew back to the United States so they can be returned to their organizations, and return to their families, and I also hope it will also lead to the rapid return of our airplane.

"And so I am encouraged by the fact that the meeting is taking place. It shouldn't have taken this long to happen. But now that it has happened, I hope this starts us on a road to a full and complete resolution of this matter.

"If we resolve this rather quickly, then hopefully it will not affect the overall relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China."

Asked how the behavior of the Chinese government will effect the deliberations within the U.S. government on arms sales to Taiwan, Powell said:

"I don't find the two issues connected -- arms sales and this. Obviously when you examine the arms sales question, it is done in the context of our obligations to Taiwan under the policies we followed with respect to Taiwan and their defensive needs for many years. So, I would like to keep the two issues separate.

"But I must say I am a little concerned about the way the Chinese government has handled this matter. We could have resolved it much earlier, I think, without creating the level of interest there is and the level of difficulty we've encountered. And I think what we have to do now is to ask the Chinese to move as quickly as possible -- and we are asking them -- to move as quickly as possible to release our crew members, release our airplane, and let's get back to other matters and put this behind us."

Powell said he could not confirm reports that Chinese officials had boarded the U.S. plane. "We have said that the plane should not be violated. It is protected, in our judgment, from that kind of intrusion, but I can't confirm whether such intrusion has taken place," he said. (ends) 
Bush To China: It Is Time For Our Servicemen And Women To Return Home""
 
(Source : White House ; issued April 3, 2001)
 
 
   We have allowed the Chinese government time to do the right thing. But now it is time for our servicemen and women to return home. And it is time for the Chinese government to return our plane," President Bush told reporters in the Rose Garden of the White House the afternoon of April 3.
    
     Reading from a statement, the President said he had just talked with U.S. Brigadier General Neal Sealock, the U.S. Embassy Defense Attache in China, who earlier in the day had met with the 24 crew members of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane that made an emergency landing on the Chinese island of Hainan late March 31 (Washington time), following a collision with a Chinese fighter jet. Sealock reported that the crew members "are in good health, they suffered no injuries, and they have not been mistreated," the President said.
    
     "They said they are looking forward to coming home and we looking forward to bringing them home," said Bush.
    
     He took no questions from reporters following his statement.
    
     Following are the President's remarks:
    
     "I want to report to the American people, and especially to the families involved, that I have just talked with Brigadier General Sealock who earlier today met with our 24 men and women in China.
    
     The General tells me they are in good health, they suffered no injuries, and they have not been mistreated. I know this is a relief to their loved ones and to all Americans.
    
     Our crew members expressed their faith in America and we have faith in them. They send their love to their families. They said they are looking forward to coming home and we are looking forward to bringing them home.
    
     This is an unusual situation in which an American military aircraft had to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil. Our approach has been to keep this accident from becoming an international incident. We have allowed the Chinese government time to do the right thing. Butnow it is time for our servicemen and women to return home. And it is time for the Chinese government to return our plane.
    
     This accident has the potential of undermining our hopes for a fruitful and productive relationship between our two countries. To keep that from happening our servicemen and women need to come home.
    
     Thank you very much.
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