Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/1/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CHINA/U-S JET (L-UPD)

NUMBER=2-274390

BYLINE=DAVID MC GUFFIN

DATELINE=BEIJING

INTERNET=

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: China is saying a U-S Navy plane caused a collision with one of its military aircraft off the country's southern coast. David McGuffin reports from Beijing.

TEXT: China says a U-S Navy reconnaissance plane veered into one of its fighter jets over the South China sea, causing the jet to crash. A statement from the Chinese foreign ministry says a search is underway for the Chinese crew.

The U-S Navy plane made an emergency landing in Chinese territory. All of its crewmembers are reported to be safe.

The Chinese version of events is markedly different from that of the U-S Navy. Navy spokesmen say the American aircraft was on a routine mission in international airspace when it was intercepted by two Chinese fighter jets - one of which collided with the U-S plane.

The U-S government has contacted its counterparts in Beijing to ensure the Navy personnel and their plane are treated in accordance with international law and allowed to leave as soon as repairs are completed.

The incident occurred while relations between China and the Bush administration are off to a rocky start, largely over U-S plans to sell modern weapon systems to Taiwan. China considers the island a renegade province, and fiercely opposes the sales.

President Bush is expected to make a decision later this month about which weapons to sell to the Taiwanese government. (SIGNED)

NEB/DMc/RAE