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CNN Live Saturday

More Thank 20 Listening Devices Found in U.S. Plane Sold to China

Aired January 19, 2002 - 17:01   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.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Two Western newspapers claim a U.S.- made jet was sold to China and was fitted with dozens of listening devices.

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has more on the allegations, and the possible fallout.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One month before President Bush and China's President Jiang Zemin meet again in China, a disclosure that has all the makings of a spy novel. The "Washington Post" and the "Financial Times" of London report that China's presidential plane, a jet purchased and retrofitted in the U.S., was bugged.

The allegation: that more than 20 listening devices were found in October on a Boeing 767 like this one, everywhere from the presidential bathroom to the bedroom.

For that reason, President Jiang has never used the plane. Boeing sold the plane to the Chinese in June of 2000. The Chinese then had the plane flown from Seattle to San Antonio, where it was upgraded for a year before making its way to China.

No comment from U.S. officials. A White House spokesman saying, quote: "We never discuss these types of allegations."

But some national security experts say they would not be surprised if the U.S. planted those devices on the plane.

THOMAS POWERS, "NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS": It's all a part of the way the game is played. And we're always trying to eavesdrop on them, and they're always trying to eavesdrop on us. And if we're lucky, we're both somewhat successful. That makes the world a safer place.

WALLACE: For example, analysts say, look at the U.S. relationship with Russia. Russians bugged the U.S. embassy in Moscow when it was under construction in the mid-1980s. And the U.S. built a secret tunnel under the former Soviet, now Russian, embassy in Washington to monitor the Russians. The questions now: Were there devices planted? And if they turn out to be the work of U.S. officials, what impact will that have on U.S.-China relations?

JAMES SASSER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: I don't think there will be a sustained Chinese protest over this. I think they'll simply overlook it. If, indeed, this was done by the United States, there is no proof at this point.

WALLACE: Sasser says this story won't be as potentially dangerous for relations as the stand-off last April when a U.S. surveillance plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet and China detained the American flight crew for 11 days.

(on camera): So far, U.S. officials say there has not been any formal protest from China. And analysts say even if the allegations are true, the countries will continuing working together, and keeping an eye and an ear on each other as well.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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