U.S., CHINA MUST CHOOSE TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP, BUSH SAYS

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," President Bush said April 12, noting that the kind of incident the two countries had just been through does not advance a constructive relationship between them.

Reading a statement in the Rose Garden shortly before he and the First Lady left the White House to fly to their ranch in Crawford, Texas for the Easter/Passover holiday weekend, the President said he had spoken earlier in the day by phone to the 24 members of the U.S. Navy flight crew and welcomed them back to the United States.

The crew is at Hickham Air Force Base in Hawaii where all members are being debriefed by U.S. officials about the collision of their reconnaissance plane with a Chinese military jet over the South China Sea April 1, a collision that forced the U.S. pilot to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island.

China kept the crew members on Hainan Island for eleven days before permitting them to return to the United States.

In his statement in the Rose Garden, Bush saluted the courage of the crew "and the extraordinary skill" of the pilot, Navy Lieutenant Shane Osborn, who skillfully guided the plane to that emergency landing, saving the lives of all on it.

The President said the U.S. government is "looking forward to talking with the flight crew about exactly how the accident happened."

He made clear that "from all the evidence we have seen, the United States aircraft was operating in international airspace, in full accordance with all laws, procedures, and regulations, and did nothing to cause the accident."

He noted that the United States and China have agreed that representatives of the two governments will meet on April 18th to discuss the accident.

Bush said he will ask the U.S. representative "to ask the tough questions" about China's recent practice of challenging United States aircraft operating legally in international airspace.

"Reconnaissance flights," said the President, "are a part of a comprehensive national security strategy that helps maintain peace and stability in our world.

"China's decision to prevent the return of our crew for 11 days is inconsistent with the kind of relationship we have both said we wish to have," he said.

Bush added that the United States and China "disagree on important basic issues such as human rights and religious freedom," and "at times have different views about the path to a more stable and secure Asian Pacific region.

"We have different values, yet common interests in the world," he said.

"We agree on the importance of trade and we want to increase prosperity for our citizens," the President said. "We want the citizens of both our countries to enjoy the benefits of peace in the world, so we need to work together on global security problems such as preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction."

Bush said he "will always stand squarely for American interests and American values, and those will no doubt sometimes cause disagreements with China." But he made clear he will approach the differences "in a spirit of respect."

Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters that the President "is very pleased that the mission that he directed has been accomplished, and that our men and women were brought home." He was also pleased "that it was handled through diplomatic channels and that it was handled with patience. The President is very satisfied with the manner that it turned out," said Fleischer.

"The President believes as a result of this conclusion, and the manner in which the diplomacy was handled," said Fleischer, "that the framework for a productive relationship with China has been preserved. Continuing to build on that framework depends on the actions not only of the United States but the actions of China -- and that is how the President views where we stand today."