Bush, Jiang issue demands over spy flight
BEIJING -- U.S. President George W. Bush urged China Tuesday to promptly return
the the American crew and plane that crash landed on Hainan Sunday.
His counterpart President Jiang Zemin warned the U.S. to stop spy flights off
China's coast.
Both leaders warned of harmed relations if the other side did not comply.
China has allowed U.S. officials to visit the crew of the Navy EP-3E electronic
surveillance aircraft. All are reported in good condition, although
reports indicate China may be dismantling the spy plane.
Unconfirmed U.S. media reports said that spy satellites had revealed that parts of
the plane were being carried away from the aircraft.
The U.S. claims that the aircraft is a
sovereign asset and that China has no right
to board the plane. Chinese officials dismiss
the claim though.
''Based on Chinese law and international practice, we
have the right to conduct an investigation. If this plane is sovereign
American territory, how did it land in China?''
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said.
In a strong statement on Tuesday, Bush said that China
had kept the crew and plane long enough.
"This accident has the potential of undermining our hopes for a fruitful and
productive relationship between our two countries," Bush said. "To keep that
from happening, our servicemen and women need to come home."
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