Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4-3-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-274497

TITLE=Bush - China (L-update)

BYLINE=Deborah Tate

DATELINE=White House

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// updates w/comments from senior U-S official ///

INTRO: President Bush is calling on China to immediately release the crew members of a damaged U-S surveillance plane - saying the matter could undermine relations between Washington and Beijing. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House.

Text: Mr. Bush says the United States has sought to avoid escalating the diplomatic stalemate over the U-S surveillance plane, which was forced to land on Hainan Island Sunday after it collided with a Chinese fighter jet.

But in a brief appearance before reporters, he suggested his patience is running out, as China has yet to allow the return of the 24 crew members and the aircraft.

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

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. But now it is time for our service men and women to return home. And it is time for the Chinese government to return our plane.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Bush warned that U-S - Sino relations could be harmed if Beijing allows the stalemate to drag on:

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

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 service men and women need to come home.

/// END ACT ///

The President said he has been briefed by Army Brigadier General Neal Sealock, the U-S Embassy defense attache in Beijing who had met earlier Tuesday with the crew members. Mr. Bush said he was told all of them are in good health, and that they suffered no injuries and have not been mistreated.

A senior administration official who did not want to be identified said the crew members are being held two people to a room in a military guest house, with the exception of the pilot, who is being held alone.

The official said the United States has not received a direct response to its repeated requests for the release of the crew and plane, saying the Chinese maintain they need more time to investigate.

The official - responding to Chinese public appeals that Washington apologize for the mid-air collision - said the United States did nothing wrong and that there would be no apology. The official called the mishap an accident that occurred over international waters.

China blames the United States for the collision, which caused the Chinese fighter jet to crash - apparently killing the pilot.

The U-S official said the United States would express regret for the loss of the Chinese pilot if indeed he was killed.

The official praised the U-S pilot for being able to land the plane, which had lost one propellor, suffered damage in another and in the nosecone, and dropped some 25-hundred meters after the collision. (signed)

Neb/dat/PT