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American Morning

Diplomatic Efforts Show Promise in U.S.-China Standoff

Aired April 06, 2001 - 11:35   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: The latest now on that spy plane standoff between the United States and China. Just minutes ago, as you might have seen on CNN, Secretary of State Colin Powell briefing reporters; he said U.S. officials are encouraged by their discussions thus far with Chinese officials.

We want to talk a little bit more about that now with our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel.

From what he said though, Andrea, it sounded like the conditions that the crew is being kept in is the most encouraging news that they've received so far.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes it is, Stephen. The -- Secretary of State Powell briefing reporters on the status of the crewmembers. They had just gotten briefed -- President Bush and Secretary Powell had just been briefed on that meeting this morning with those two U.S. diplomats who saw them, now, for second time this week. And, as you mentioned, he had an update on the status of those 24 crewmembers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: All of the crew members are in fine shape, they're in good health, they're in high spirits, their morale is great. And to quote one of the things that the general said to the president, "make you feel real proud; they looked good." They are residing in Chinese officer quarters, so they are being cared for well in these -- equivalent of Chinese officer quarters. And the rooms that they're in are clean and well-lit and they have all the provisions they need. They are receiving catered food from outside, so the Chinese are taking good care of our men and women.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: In addition, Secretary Powell said that there was no evidence of any physical or mental abuse. He said that these U.S. diplomats expect to see the crew again on Saturday -- tomorrow, and that they hope to see, and their expectation is that they would be able to see the crew regularly until they're released.

Now, as Secretary Powell said publicly now, for the first time -- what CNN has been reporting since yesterday, the negotiations to get those crewmembers released have been going well. In his words, "they've been exchanging precise ideas as to how they might do that." China and the U.S., obviously, have certain points that they're debating right now. Among them, China wants the U.S. to stop flying surveillance flights along its coast.

And so they're talking about, among the ideas the State Department officials say they're discussing is a maritime military commission that was brought about a few years ago to deal with problems at sea. And Stephen, they're now talking about how, perhaps, to use that commission as a mechanism to discuss what to do about U.S. air flights near and around China soil.

FRAZIER: So help me with the protocol of this, then, Andrea. If this whole entire matter were referred to that maritime commission, which already exists, would that show that it's all being calmed down, scaled back from the absolute top-level diplomacy that we're seeing now?

KOPPEL: Well, I think it's a combination of all of those things. This is one aspect of a larger puzzle that they're trying to complete right now, in terms of gaining the release of those crewmembers. I rather doubt that Secretary Powell himself would be sitting down with his counterpart to deal with this commission. So, most likely, there would be senior military officers or senior diplomats who would be sitting in on the meeting.

But all of this, in Secretary Powell's words, are encouraging signs that after almost a week they're finally making some progress, finally talking to one another in a productive way. And he said that the negotiations are continuing in Beijing with the U.S. ambassador there and here in Washington. They're really trying to keep this going around the clock.

FRAZIER: And it's been a long week for you, Andrea, given that 12-hour time difference between Washington and Beijing. Thanks for those insights this morning.

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