Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4-12-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-274865

TITLE=BUSH - CHINA ONITER (L)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush says the United States will raise the issue of China's practice of tracking U-S reconnaissance flights when officials from both countries meet next week to discuss the April first mid-air collision between an American surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter jet. Mr. Bush says such a practice does not help advance constructive ties between Washington and Beijing. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House.

TEXT: As he prepared to depart for a long Easter weekend at his ranch in Texas, Mr. Bush appeared before reporters to welcome home the 24 surveillance plane crewmembers who had been held on China's Hainan Island for 11 days.

The President had been reserved in his comments about the plane mishap while the Americans were detained. But just hours after their arrival in Hawaii, the President criticized China's handling of the matter - specifically its decision to detain the crewmembers and its tracking of U-S surveillance flights near Chinese airspace.

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

The kind of incident we have just been through does not advance a constructive relationship between our two countries. Both the United States and China must make a determined choice to have a productive relationship that will contribute to a more secure, more prosperous and more peaceful world.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Bush said the United States would raise the issue of China's harassment of U-S aircraft when officials from both countries meet April 18th to discuss the collision incident.

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

I will ask our United States representative to ask the tough questions about China's recent practice of challenging United States aircraft operating legally in international air space. Reconnaissance flights are part of a comprehensive national security strategy that helps maintain peace and stability in our world.

/// END ACT ///

China - which has called for a halt to the U-S surveillance flights - has blamed the United States for the collision.

The President said there is no evidence the U-S aircraft did anything to trigger the mishap , saying it was operating in international airspace in full accordance with all laws, procedures and regulations, and did nothing to cause the accident.

Mr. Bush noted the United States and China continue to have differences beyond the plane incident - including on human rights and religious freedom. He vowed to approach such differences in a spirit of respect.

The President reiterated his desire to work with China in areas where there is common ground - including trade and curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.(signed)

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