CTV Television CTV NEWS , April 1, 2001 23:00:00 - 23:30:00 Eastern Time
American spy plane and Chinese fighter jet collided
SANDIE RINALDO: Relations between the US and China are badly strained tonight after an American spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter collided over the China sea. Both sides are pointing an accusing finger at each other. And now, the military accident is threatening to blow up into a diplomatic crisis. CTV's David McGuffin reports.
DAVID McGUFFIN [Reporter]: China says a US navy spy plane, like this one, veered into one of its fighter jets over the south China Sea, causing the jet to crash. But the US navy says their plane was in international airspace, on a routine mission when a Chinese fighter jet collided with it.
ADMIRAL DENNIS BLAIR [US Navy]: Our aircraft fly routinely straight and level. It's pretty obvious as to who bumped into who.
McGUFFIN: The plane made an emergency landing on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. All of the crew members are reported to be safe. Analysts say the aircraft is packed with equipment China's security experts would love to get their hands on.
JOHN PIKE [Director, GlobalSecurity.org]: It's jam- packed with some of the most sensitiv intelligence collection, gadgets that the American intelligence community has.
McGUFFIN: The American ambassador here in Beijing has met with top Chinese officials to begin talks on resolving the matter. And a team from the embassy has flown down to Hainan. The Bush administration is calling for prompt return of the plane and its crew.
JOHN McCAIN [Arizona Senator]: I think that this could have some repercussions on what the Chinese will help us repair the airplane and get it off that island very quickly and move forward.
McGUFFIN: Analysts say the challenge for both countries now is to settle the matter quickly and avoid any long term diplomatic damage. David McGuffin, CTV News, Beijing.
RINALDO: And the incident comes as Beijing and the new Bush administration are still sizing each other up. China fears the new President is more pro-Taiwan than his predecessor. China is also worried about possible sales of high tech American weaponry to Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province.
Copyright 2001 CTV Television, Inc.
