ABC NEWS WORLD NEWS NOW (2:00 AM ET) April 2, 2001, Monday
STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN US AND CHINA NOT HELPED BY COLLISION OF NAVY SURVEILLANCE PLANE AND CHINESE FIGHTER JET
LIZ CHO, co-anchor:
The US and China are blaming each other for the collision between the Navy surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter jet. American diplomats went today to the Chinese island of Hainan where the US plane made an emergency landing. They're hoping to pressure China into returning one of the Navy's most sophisticated aircrafts. Here's ABC's John McWethy.
JOHN McWETHY reporting:
The American aircraft may not look like much, but this four-engine propeller plane called the EP-3 Aries, would be an intelligence gold mine for China if that government refuses to give it back to the US.
Mr. JOHN PIKE (Director, GlobalSecurity.org): It's jam-packed with some of the most sensitive intelligence collection gadgets that the American intelligence community has.
McWETHY: (VO) Flying out of Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, the plane was working its way along the coast of China near the island of Hainan. Its mission: gather radar frequencies and radio traffic from China's air defense, naval and missile installations.
After the incident, the P-3 made an emergency landing on the Chinese island of Hainan. The American pilot radioed that all 24 men and women on board were safe, but they had been ordered by the Chinese to shut down the aircraft. That was the last communication.
The Chinese foreign ministry said the incident was, quote, "entirely the responsibility of the US plane" because it veered unexpectedly. American officials say that is nonsense. Admiral Dennis Blair, Pacific commander, said the responsibility lies with the fast-moving Chinese jets.
Admiral DENNIS BLAIR (US Pacific Command): Under international air space rules, the faster, more maneuverable aircraft has the obligation to stay out of the--out of the way of the--of the slower aircraft. Our aircraft fly routinely straight and level. It's pretty obvious as to who bumped into whom.
McWETHY: Admiral Blair said the Chinese have an obligation to let the US government talk to the air crew. As yet that has not happened. Admiral Blair also said they have an obligation to off the American plane. It is unclear what they have done on that score. John McWethy, ABC News, the Pentagon.
DEREK McGINTY, co-anchor:
And that plane collision is just the latest incident to strain relations between Beijing and Washington. Details from ABC's Josh Gerstein.
JOSH GERSTEIN reporting:
The airborne altercation over the South China Sea comes at a very difficult time in the US-Chinese relationship. Several US academics have been detained in China and accused of spying. And, the US remains very critical of China's human rights record. For their part, the Chinese are nervous about US plans to deploy a national missile defense system which could have the effect of blunting China's nuclear deterrent. The most tense issue in the relationship, however, may be Taiwan. The US is considering selling an Aegis missile cruiser to Taiwan and the Chinese don't like that one bit. Some experts say Taiwan, however, could be the key to defusing the current tension in the US-China relationship. The Bush administration is suppose to make a decision on new arms sales later this month. If it puts off that decision, the Chinese may see it as a sign of good will. Josh Gerstein, ABC News, the White House.
CHO: A new accord takes affect today which gives South Korean
officials jurisdiction over any US soldier accused of a serious crime there.
Until now, sol--soldiers have remained in US military custody until they were
convicted in the Korean judicial system and all appeals were exhausted. About
37,000 US troops are stationed in South
Korea.
Copyright 2001 ABC NEWS
