For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 3, 2001
Statement by the President
The Rose Garden
4:03 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good
afternoon. I want to report to the American people, and
especially to the families involved, that I've just talked with
Brigadier General Sealock, who, earlier today, met with our 24 men and
women in China.
The General tells me they are in good health,
they suffered no injuries, and they have not been
mistreated. I know this is a relief to their loved ones, and
to all Americans.
Our crew members expressed their faith in
America, and we have faith in them. They send their love to
their families. They said they're looking forward to coming
home, and we are looking forward to bringing them home.
This is an unusual situation, in which an
American military aircraft had to make an emergency landing on Chinese
soil. Our approach has been to keep this accident from
becoming an international incident. We have allowed the
Chinese government time to do the right thing. But now it is
time for our servicemen and women to return home. And it is
time for the Chinese government to return our plane.
This accident has the potential of undermining
our hopes for a fruitful and productive relationship between our two
countries. To keep that from happening, our servicemen and
women need to come home.
Thank you very much.
END
4:05 P.M. EDT
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