Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4-2-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-274483

TITLE=U-S / CHINA PLANE (L 3nd UPDATE)

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

//// EDS: CUTTING AMBASSADOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT APOLOGY IN INTRO AND NEXT TO LAST GRAF OF TEXT. PLEASE MAKE TAPE CONFORM TO TEXT. TAPE WILL NOT BE RE-FED///

INTRO: China's President is demanding an end to U-S spy flights near

Chinese territory. The demand follows Sunday's midair collision between a U-S military reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter that left a

Chinese pilot missing and the U-S crew in Chinese custody.

V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from Beijing.

TEXT: China's President Jiang Zemin says the U-S side must bear all

responsibility for Sunday's accident over the South China Sea, when

two Chinese jet fighters intercepted a propeller-driven U-S military

reconnaissance plane.

Chinese officials offered new details of the incident in an unusual

late night briefing Tuesday. They say Chinese planes were flying

within 400 meters of the U-S surveillance plane when the big U-S craft

suddenly veered to one side, striking the aft section of one

fighter, sending it out of control into the sea. A damaged wing

and engine forced the American plane and its two dozen crew members

to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao speaking through a

translator, says the Americans have a lot to answer for.

/// ZHU ACT ///

The priority of the U-S side at present is not to ask this or that,

but rather to re-think this incident and make apology to the Chinese

side. And give answers to the Chinese side.

/// END ACT ///

Earlier, President Jiang asked why the Americans send so many spy

planes near Chinese territory, why this one hit a Chinese aircraft,

and why the pilot did not bother to ask permission before entering

Chinese airspace and landing on Chinese territory.

U-S President Bush has demanded the prompt return of the U-S

crew and the release of their plane without 'damage or

tampering.'

/// REST OPT ///

Chinese spokesman Zhu will not say if Chinese experts have already

searched the spy plane to learn the secrets of its advanced sensors

and powerful computers. But Mr. Zhu says they probably will.

/// ZHU ACT ///

The Chinese side is fully entitled to conduct an investigation into

this case, and this is the right of any sovereign country. And

since we have the right to conduct an investigation into it, so we

will.

/// END ACT ///

U-S officials strongly objected to the search and the U-S Ambassador

to China, Joseph Prueher, told U-S television that the craft is a treasure trove of American electronic secrets.

/// PRUEHER ACT ///

There is little doubt that they have been over the airplane. Its

been there. We are sure that the crew is not on the airplane. And

we have every reason to think that the Chinese have been all over

the airplane.

/// END ACT ///

Ambassador Prueher, a former admiral who was a pilot for 35 years,

says it is unlikely the Chinese account of the accident is correct.

Meantime, China's President Jiang says he is deeply concerned about

the fate of missing Chinese aviator, Wang Wei, and he ordered the

dozens of Chinese ships and planes searching the crash area to

continue their work. (Signed).

NEB/HK/JR/KBK