Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/6/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-274631

TITLE=BUSH / CHINA (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush is reporting progress in efforts to end the diplomatic impasse with China and bring home the U-S Navy spy plane and its crewmembers involved in last Sunday's mid-air collision with a Chinese jet. But meanwhile, as V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House, the possible outlines of a settlement are emerging.

TEXT: The President's remarks - to businessmen in a Washington suburb - reflected the cautious optimism of other senior officials about the talks with China, and the fact that Chinese authorities allowed a second meeting between the 24 detained Americans and the U-S military attache.

Mr. Bush - who was personally briefed by the attache, Brigadier General Neal Sealock - said the crewmembers are in his words, "doing just fine" and being well treated, and he confirmed that talks on their release are making some progress:

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

We're proud of these young men and women, who are upholding the high standards of the armed forces. We know this is a difficult time for their families and we thank them for their patriotism and their patience. We're working hard to bring them home through intensive discussions with the Chinese government and we think we're making progress.

/// END ACT ///

Administration officials are declining comment on the terms of an emerging deal to end the impasse.

But Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner said he and colleagues were told at a private briefing that a U-S-Chinese statement on the incident is being drafted, and that there would be a joint inquiry into the circumstances of the collision.

Mr. Warner said the statement would likely reiterate the administration's expression of regret over the loss of the Chinese fighter pilot but he dismissed reporters' suggestions that there would be broader U-S concessions:

/// WARNER ACTUALITY ///

That is now being finalized in the letter. I wouldn't say concessions. I would say meeting of the minds. I think it's very careful that we handle all of our discussions at this juncture with concern for the detainees, our detained crew, and their families. So I would not - to the extent that that knowledge has been shared with me - characterize it as concessions.

/// END ACT ///

China has demanded a formal apology over the incident. But officials here say the administration has no intention of going beyond the regrets - expressed personally by President Bush Thursday - at least not while the crewmembers remain in Chinese custody and have not been de-briefed by U-S military officials.

An inquiry into the collision would presumably be handled by a joint maritime commission set up by the two governments three years ago to reduce the possibility of incidents at sea involving their military forces. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/JWH