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CNN Live Saturday

Chinese Officials Insist on U.S. Apology for Spy Plane Incident

Aired April 07, 2001 - 12:05   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Negotiations continue to resolve the spy plane impasse, as we've said before, the United States is offering its regrets, but as CNN's Beijing bureau chief Rebecca MacKinnon says, Beijing may have its heart set on an apology.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): President Bush, shown in this popular Beijing newspaper, looking down as he expressed regret for the accident. And now, China's vice premier, Qian Qichen, accompanying President Jiang Zemin in Latin America, says that's still unacceptable.

He has replied to the letter of regret from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who he met in Washington last month. Qian insists the U.S. must apologize to the Chinese people. He says, quote: "This is of utmost important in solving the problem.?

Yet there does appear to have been some diplomatic progress, with U.S. officials on Hainan Island gaining further access to the crew members, and Saturday, U.S. Ambassador Joseph Prueher continued his intense negotiations, despite the fact the U.S. has said flat-out it will not apologize.

JOSEPH PRUEHER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: We are in good communication with the Chinese. We are negotiating. It's at a sensitive stage, and I think we're making progress.

MACKINNON: But many ordinary Chinese believe the time has not yet come to release the U.S. crew.

This man says Bush's regret means nothing.

"I don't think the Chinese government should release the crew without an apology," says this woman. "At least we should arrest the American pilot who knocked down our plane and try him here in China."

Observers say such public sentiment, echoed widely in the Chinese media, has put a great deal of pressure on Chinese leaders.

JIN CANRONG, CHINESE ACADEMY SOCIAL SCIENCE (through translator): The Chinese government is severely restrained by domestic politics, especially because the Communist Party is facing a power transition. This makes it even harder for Chinese leaders to make decisions. In a sensitive period like this, they cannot afford to make a mistake.

MACKINNON (on camera): As one observer puts it, China's government is something like a corporate board of directors. Chinese President Jiang Zemin will not be able to sign off on the final agreement with the United States without a consensus in the Communist Party politburo.

Rebecca MacKinnon, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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