For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 2, 2001
Statement by the President on American Plane and Crew in China
Outside Oval Office
11:38 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Late Saturday night
in Washington, Sunday morning in China, a United States naval maritime
patrol aircraft on a routine surveillance mission in international
airspace over the South China Sea collided with one of two Chinese
fighters that were shadowing our plane. Both our aircraft and a
Chinese aircraft were damaged in the collision. Our aircraft made an
emergency landing at an airfield on China's Hainan Island.
We have been in contact with the Chinese
government about this incident since Saturday night. From
our own information, we know that the United States naval plane landed
safely. Our embassy in Beijing has been told by the Chinese
government that all 24 crew members are safe.
Our priorities are the prompt and safe return
of the crew, and the return of the aircraft without further damaging or
tampering. The first step should be immediate access by our
embassy personnel to our crew members. I am troubled by the
lack of a timely Chinese response to our request for this access.
Our embassy officials are on the ground and
prepared to visit the crew and aircraft as soon as the Chinese
government allows them to do so. And I call on the Chinese
government to grant this access promptly.
Failure of the Chinese government to react
promptly to our request is inconsistent with standard diplomatic
practice, and with the expressed desire of both our countries for
better relations.
Finally, we have offered to provide search and
rescue assistance to help the Chinese government locate its missing
aircraft and pilot. Our military stands ready to help.
Thank you very much.
END 11:40
A.M. EDT
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