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U.S. Hoping For Quick Return Of Aircrew Held By
China
Efe
April 11, 2001
Washington, Apr 11
(EFE).- The Pentagon on Wednesday began preparations to pick up 24 U.S.
crew members of a U.S. Navy spy plane that made an emergency landing at a
Chinese military airfield on Hainan Island, China, after Beijing agreed to
release them.
U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday said the
United States was proud of the Navy personnel that made up the spy plane's
crew.
"I am pleased to be able to tell the American people that
plans are underway to bring home our 24 American servicemen and women from
Hainan Island," Bush told reporters at the White House.
"This has
been a difficult situation for both our countries," Bush said.
The
U.S. Navy spy plane - on a routine mission off the coast of China - was
forced to make an emergency landing at a Chinese military airfield on
Hainan Island after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter.
The Chinese pilot apparently succeeded in ejecting from the
stricken warplane but has not been found.
During his brief
statement to reporters, Bush also expressed "sorrow for the life of a
Chinese pilot."
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said
Washington received guarantees from China that the aircrew would soon be
released.
Fleischer said the agreement would end the crew's
detention even as he added that he did not know when the aircrew would be
released.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the U.S. military
was relieved by the news, but did not have not many details available yet.
In a letter to Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, U.S.
Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher, said the United States is "very sorry
the entering of China's airspace did not have verbal clearance."
Prueher's letter also said, "Both President Bush and Secretary of
State Powell expressed their sincere regret over your missing pilot and
aircraft."
"Please convey to the Chinese people and to the family
of pilot Wang Wei that we are very sorry for their loss," the letter said.
"Although the full picture of what transpired is still unclear,
according to our information, our severely crippled aircraft made an
emergency landing after following international emergency procedures," the
letter said.
On Wednesday morning, a Pentagon spokesman said the
U.S. is preparing a military flight that will leave from Guam and fly to
Hainan Island to pick up the Navy aircrew.
The spokesman said the 21 men and three women would be transported to
Guam and then to Hawaii where they will be debriefed by U.S. intelligence
service personnel in order to determine how much the Chinese were able
to learn of U.S. intelligence gathering capabilities.
Copyright 2001 Efe. All Rights Reserved.
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