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CNN Live Saturday

U.S.-China Meeting May Indicate Future of Relations

Aired April 14, 2001 - 17:05   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Now, while most of the attention today centers on the crew's homecoming, Washington and Beijing still have issues to resolve. The collision will be the focus of a meeting next week in Beijing. And U.S. officials say how the Chinese respond could signal the future of relations between the two nations.

Here's CNN's Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Not wanting to intrude on the crew's emotional homecoming, President Bush stayed at his Crawford ranch, but offered this salute:

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On this holiday we offer the thanks of our nation to the 24 servicemen and women who are no longer in China and are now home.

WALLACE: Ever since the crew returned to the United States, Mr. Bush and his team have taken a tougher stand against China, releasing evidence, such as this tape, accusing the Chinese pilots of using aggressive tactics and causing the collision with the American EP-3.

DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: There's no spin, there's nothing -- there's no adjectives involved. It is simply a factual presentation of what took place.

WALLACE: But on China's state-run television, Beijing denounced the American version of events. And so the stage is set for what will likely be a contentious meeting with China, as the U.S. presses for the return of its $80 million plane, and vows to continue its surveillance flights.

RICHARD PERLE, FORMER ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY: We have to maintain a tough stand in this negotiation, because it is essential to disabuse the Chinese of the idea that they can take Americans into custody and expect to benefit thereby.

WALLACE: Just how the Chinese respond, observers say, will influence President Bush's next move.

NICHOLAS LARDY, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think he is holding out the prospect of improvements if we have some reciprocity in the relationship. I don't think he's automatically going reach out and try to extract a price.

WALLACE: But some in Congress want Beijing to pay a price, and are urging the administration to sell high-tech destroyers with sophisticated radar to Taiwan later this month.

JAMES SASSER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: If the Aegis system is sold to Taiwan, then we're going to see severe turbulence in the Chinese-U.S. relationship.

WALLACE (on camera): The tougher tone from the administration, aides say, was definitely intended to put the Chinese on alert, that their actions will help dictate if the already fractured relationship begins to heal or becomes more damaged.

Kelly Wallace, CNN. Crawford Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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