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CNN Live At Daybreak

China Releases Two U.S. Residents Convicted of Spying

Aired July 26, 2001 - 07:01   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A flurry of diplomatic activity in Beijing leads to the release of two more Americans. China today ordered two U.S. residents deported following their convictions for spying.

CNN Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz has more now -- Jaime.

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Carol, U.S./China relations seem to be on the upswing as Beijing this week saw a flurry of quick trials, convictions and deportations -- all seemingly calibrated to set a better mood for Colin Powell's talks with Chinese leaders on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice over): Tuesday, Gao Zhan sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying for Taiwan; Thursday, U.S.-bound on medical parole, removing another irritant ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Beijing, just in time.

Gao, a permanent U.S. resident and Chinese citizen complains of heart ailments.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We pointed out to the People's Court that since her doctor is in the U.S., they could send her back for treatment.

FLORCRUZ: Gao's release comes only one day after Li Shaomin, a U.S. citizen and professor, was deported home for spying. The Chinese suggests Beijing is out to please Secretary Powell.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seems as if they would like to proceed and get back to business as usual with the United States in the wake of all of the difficulties the relationships had in the past two or three months.

FLORCRUZ: Beijing and Washington have clashed over human rights, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and global missile defense. The tides dipped to a new low after a U.S. spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet in April.

But the Chinese welcome Secretary Powell's fence-mending visit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His visit just occurs at a time when Sino- American relations is on the upswing. The plane incident is not all of Sino-American relations. So we need to move on.

FLORCRUZ: Beijing views the U.S. as China's most important source of investment, trade and modern technology -- all too important to snub or antagonize. Chinese leaders even rubs shoulders with Wall Street.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FLORCRUZ: President Jiang Zemin has set up China's foreign policy based on U.S. -- a good U.S./China relations. Jiang wants to keep the relations on a steady course. And that is why China today has bent over backwards to free the Chinese scholars.

This is Jaime FlorCruz in Beijing -- back to you, Carol.

LIN: Thank you very much, Jaime, for checking in.

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