Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4-8-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-274679

TITLE=US-CHINA (L)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Secretary of State Colin Powell says some progress has been made between U-S and Chinese officials on the return of crew members from a U-S surveillance plane that collided with a Chinese jet fighter a week ago. But he warns Beijing not to allow the stalemate to drag on, saying U-S Sino ties are at stake. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House.

TEXT: In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Mr. Powell says a quick resolution to the standoff over the return of the 24 U-S crew members is essential to prevent further damage to relations between Washington and Beijing.

/// POWELL ACT ///

Whatever the price the Chinese ultimately pay, they are making it worse in terms of delaying this situation. The sooner we clear this up, the less damage that will done to the relationship. It is already easy to see that things are happening that are not favorable to them. Congressional delegations are canceling trips, I am getting calls from senior former officials and business people saying we do not think we are going to be visiting any time soon.

/// END ACT ///

China, which blames the United States for the mid-air collision, is demanding an apology before the 24-crewmembers are released.

Mr. Powell underscored the U-S view that the mishap was an accident in international airspace, and so an apology is not warranted. The United States has expressed regret for the apparent death of the pilot of the Chinese fighter jet, which crashed after the mishap.

Mr. Powell expressed hope that ongoing negotiations to return the crewmembers will resolve the stalemate.

/// POWELL ACT ///

We laid out a roadmap several days ago with the Chinese government as to how we can get through this incident and get to a more stable situation once again. We are not moving as fast along the roadmap as I would like, but we are moving, and there has been progress.

/// END ACT ///

The U-S plane, which was loaded with sophisticated surveillance equipment, made an emergency landing at Hainan Island after the collision.

Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking on N-B-C's Meet The Press program, says the United States has every reason to believe the Chinese went aboard the plane, but he said it is not clear whether they learned any U-S intelligence secrets.

Although China has demanded an end to U-S surveillance flights near its territory, Mr. Cheney and Mr. Powell said such missions would continue in international airspace, saying they are necessary to protect U-S security. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/RAE