Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=04/08/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-274680

TITLE=US/CHINA (L-UPDATE)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: UPDATES 2-274679 ///

INTRO: President Bush is monitoring developments in China, where 24 Americans continue to be held, eight days after their surveillance plane collided in mid-air with a Chinese fighter jet. Mr. Bush has made clear the United States will not apologize for the incident, as China has demanded. But he is sending a letter of regret to the wife of the Chinese pilot who apparently died when his fighter jet crashed after the collision. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House.

TEXT: Mr. Bush who has already expressed regret over the apparent death of the pilot wanted to underscore the sentiment in a letter to the pilot's wife.

The presumed widow had written to Mr. Bush last week, accusing him of cowardice for refusing to apologize for the plane mishap.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, in an interview on C-N-N's Late Edition Sunday, said the president in her words 'took the high road' to personally express his regret over the matter.

/// RICE ACTUALITY ///

The president is simply responding in a humanitarian way to an expression from the pilot's wife of her grief and dismay at what has happened to her husband.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Bush's letter is another effort by the administration to try to defuse tensions with China over the collision, which Beijing blames on the United States.

Washington argues it was an accident in international airspace. U-S officials made the rounds on (appeared on) the Sunday talk shows to reiterate that there is no reason for an apology.

Word of Mr. Bush's letter of regret comes as administration officials say the United States is engaged in intensive negotiations with China for the return of the 24 crew members, whose plane made an emergency landing on Hainan Island after the collision.

Vice President Dick Cheney said the Americans could be released soon, but he did not elaborate.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking on C-B-S's 'Face the Nation', urged China to resolve the matter soon, or risk harming relations with the United States.

He said China's actions surrounding the plane incident could have a bearing on the Bush administration's decision later this month on whether to sell advanced defensive weapons to Taiwan even though he says the two issues are not related.

/// POWELL ACTUALITY ///

I have to say that, of course it is affecting the environment that we will be facing when we take the sale up on Capitol Hill, if there is a perception that China is not acting in a responsible and reasonable manner. So even though we are keeping it separate, I cannot help to say to the Chinese that it could become linked in the overall political climate that may exist at the time this goes up (for consideration).

/// END ACT ///

The United States is obligated to provide for Taiwan's defense needs under U-S law. Beijing opposes arms sales to Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province. (signed)

NEB/DAT/TDW