Intelligence

DATE=7/3/2001

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-277847

TITLE=CHINA / SPY PLANE RETURN (L)

BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER

DATELINE= BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The remains of a crippled U-S surveillance plane have been transported out of China in parts and are being flown back to the United States. As Beijing Correspondent Leta Hong Fincher reports, the incident had caused a crisis in Sino-U-S relations.

TEXT: The remaining parts of the U-S Navy reconnaissance plane were packed onto a massive cargo aircraft and departed China on their way to Hawaii.

The U-S Pacific Command in Hawaii says that the plane left Tuesday from the Lingshui military base on China's southern Hainan Island.

The U-S surveillance plane had been stranded on Hainan Island since a mid-air collision with a Chinese jet April first.

The collision over the South China Sea killed the Chinese pilot, and resulted in all 24 U-S crew members being detained on Hainan Island for 12 days. The crew was released only after Washington said it was very sorry for the pilot's death, and for making an emergency landing without permission on Chinese territory.

The official Xinhua News Agency says that China and the United States will continue talks concerning what it calls U-S payment to China. There has been no word yet from U-S officials regarding compensation for the collision.

China has blamed the United States for the crash, and refused to allow U-S technicians to repair the plane and fly it back home in one piece.

Relations between China and the United States were sorely strained by the crisis.

/// ZHANG ACT IN CHINESE, UP AND UNDER ///

But China's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a news conference Tuesday that China is pleased to see relations between the two countries improving after experiencing previous difficulties. Ms. Zhang spoke before the official announcement of the plane's departure, but she urged the United States to respect Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, so that Sino-U-S relations can get back on track. (signed)

NEB/HK/LHF/JO/KBK