Posted on: Tuesday, April 03, 2001
Diplomats meet with spy plane crew; crew reported in good health
Associated Press
American diplomats met with the crew of a stricken American spy plane Tuesday on an island in southern China where it made an emergency landing. An American diplomat said the crew members were in good health but gave no indication when they would be released.
"I hope that this meeting will lead to the rapid release of all of the members of the crew back to the United States so they can be returned to their families," Powell told reporters.
Speaking at a news conference in Key West, Fla., Powell said he hoped that the Chinese would also permit the "rapid return of our aircraft."
He said he did not see the incident as necessarily damaging U.S.-Chinese relations. Still, Powell complained that the Chinese had waited too long to permit a U.S. team to visit the crew members.
"I'm encouraged by the fact that the meeting is taking place. It shouldn't have taken this long to happen. But, now that it has happened, I hope this starts us on a road to a full and complete resolution of this matter."
"Hopefully, it will not affect the overall relationship" between the United States and China, Powell said.
He also said the incident would have no bearing on President George W. Bush's decision, expected later this month, on the composition of an annual arms package for Taiwan.
Powell said the meeting between two U.S. officials and all 24 crew members was expected to last about 40 minutes.
Earlier Tuesday, Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for an end to U.S. surveillance flights off China's coast. China has blamed the collision on the United States.
Powell did not address those Chinese concerns. U.S. officials continue to call the collision an accident. China blames the United States.
Bush, who said Monday that China was not responding quickly enough to U.S. requests, declined comment on the situation during a trip to Wilmington, Del. But White House officials indicated he might have more to say after the diplomats' meeting with the plane crew.
Army Brig.-Gen. Neal Sealock, the U.S. Embassy defence attache, was allowed to meet late Tuesday with the 24 crew members. It was their first contact with an American official since their EP-3 surveillance plane landed on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on Sunday after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet.
"They are in good health," Sealock said of the American servicemen and women. He said U.S. officials were working for their release, but gave no indication that would happen immediately. "Our goal is to get them home as soon as possible," Sealock said.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Tuesday for the "rapid" return of the crew and the sophisticated surveillance plane as he welcomed the meeting with the crew. President George W. Bush had complained about Chinese delays in allowing the meeting.
"I hope that is the beginning of an end to this incident," said Powell.
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| Brigadier Gen. Neal Sealook, Defense Attache for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing walks to a waiting car. He and three other U.S. diplomats left to meet with Chinese officials about the release of 24 spy plane crew members detained at a Chinese military base. Associated Press |
