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| China: Army, Armed Police
Forces Comment on "Letter of Apology" from USA
BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political
April 12, 2001
Text of report by Xu Zhuangzhi and Cao Zhi, by
official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)
Beijing, 11 April: After the letter of apology, which Prueher,
plenipotentiary and US ambassador to China, delivered to the Chinese
government on behalf of the US government, about the US military
reconnaissance plane that rammed and destroyed a Chinese military
aircraft, the vast number of officers and men of the People's Liberation
Army [PLA] and the armed police forces pledged that they would firmly
support the central authorities' correct policy decision, turn their
patriotism into actions to build stronger armed forces, and safeguard
national sovereignty and territorial integrity with real actions.
After hearing this news report from radio and television stations,
the vast number of officers and men of the PLA and armed police forces
maintained: The United States has grossly violated the international law
and relevant Chinese laws. After the incident occurred, the Chinese
Government, upholding the principled position of safeguarding national
sovereignty and national dignity, made representations to and lodged
protests with the US side in a calm and restrained manner. The struggle
shows that the big country dignity China has displayed in safeguarding
world peace and defying power politics has produced positive and
far-reaching influence in the world, and has demonstrated the capabilities
of the party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core of
controlling complex situations and handling complex problems. The struggle
has upheld justice, rebuffed the brazenness of hegemonism, and safeguarded
national sovereignty and national dignity.
The officers and men of
an air unit under the Chinese Navy said: The great concern that the party
and government have shown for the safety of an ordinary naval pilot, such
as Wang Wei, and the enormous efforts, which the naval and local
authorities have made in carrying out the search-and-rescue mission,
embody the care and love of the party and the government for the people's
armed forces. We must work hard to study modern science and technology so
as to master real military skills and contribute even more to safeguarding
national sovereignty and protecting the motherland's territorial waters.
The officers and men of an Air Force division said in their
discussions: That was not the first time US military reconnaissance
aircraft violated China's sovereignty and intruded into our territorial
airspace. Over the years, US military reconnaissance aircraft have never
ceased carrying out such dangerous provocations in airspace above our
country's coastal waters. We want to ask the American gentlemen, who still
embrace their Cold War mentality, this question: How would you feel if
another country's military aircraft conducts reconnaissance flight in the
airspace close to the United States? The officers and men pointed out:
Although we have won this round of the fight, the struggle will continue.
The United States must stop such flights in the airspace above China's
coastal waters because only by doing so can it prevent similar incidents
from recurring and can it improve relations with China.
The
officers and men of a tank division under the Nanjing Military Region
said: China's territory is absolutely not the "backyard" where the armed
forces of any country can come and go, China's territorial waters are
absolutely not the "swimming pool" in which ships of any country can
cruise at will, and China's territorial airspace is absolutely not an "air
corridor" in which the military aircraft of any country can enter and
exit. Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, who are duty-bound
to safeguard their motherland, will always bear firmly in mind the sacred
mission that the party and the people have given them, firmly safeguard
the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguard the
nation's rights and interests in its territorial waters and airspace.
The officers and men of an armed police unit in Hainan said:
Stability is essential for developing the economy and increasing the
country's combined national strength, national defence, and national
coherence. Today we must turn our righteous indignation into a powerful
driving force and make new contributions to ensuring the country's social
stability and economic development.
(C) 2001 BBC
Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political. via Bell&Howell Information and
Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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