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U.S/China Standoff: Fourth Meeting With Crew Ends

Aired April 09, 2001 - 08:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: We've got an update for you on our top story off Hainan Island in China. We have word now that the fourth meeting with the crew members of that U.S. reconnaissance plane that made an emergency island after a brush-up with a Chinese fighter jet, that fourth meeting has actually ended.

Brigadier General Neal Sealock, who's sort of the Defense Department attache and the leader of the delegation, just a short time ago, went from his hotel to the meeting. We have word now that he is back. He's actually speaking to reporters in the provincial capital of Haikou right now.

CNN's Lisa Rose Weaver is there. She's listening to that statement right now. And she's going to bring it to us just as soon as she's done and she's heard what Brigadier General Neal Sealock has to say about his meeting.

Going into it, there was no word on how many of the crew members he would actually be able to meet with. The past three meetings have been with varying numbers of the crew, not necessarily the entire crew. Officials were able to bring some supplies -- some basic supplies into the crew over the weekend. And U.S. officials are still pushing for what they call more unfettered access to the crew: a way to meet with them, a way to talk to them, a way to monitor what's going on, and, of course, get information from them as well.

So, again, we'll bring you up to date just as soon as we hear what was the outcome of that meeting.

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