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American Morning

U.S./China Standoff: One Diplomatic Step at a Time

Aired April 06, 2001 - 10:01   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It has been one diplomatic step at a time in the standoff. Let's go ahead and take a look at the latest on that. A second meeting is finally under way between U.S. envoys and the American crew involved in the crash with that Chinese fighter jet, this after a lengthy delay and some confusion over the meeting's actual start.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, the U.S. ambassador says that fairly intense talks are going on to gain the crew's release. And just one day after President Bush expressed regret for the missing Chinese pilot, a second Chinese pilot is blaming the U.S. for the incident. We have his comments, but keep in mind the U.S. has not debriefed the American pilot on what led to the crash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZHAO YU, CHINESE PILOT: On April 1, Wang Wei and I were on duty. At about 8:45 A.M. we took off to conduct our routine tracking mission in the air space southeast of Hainan Island. Seven minutes after takeoff, we found a large plane to our left, 50 kilometers ahead of us. Wang Wei and I approached the plane and identified it as a U.S. EP-3 type surveillance plane.

When the U.S. spy plane spotted us, it adjusted its navigation course. So we adjusted ours accordingly. At 9:05 A.M., the U.S. plane readjusted its course to 110 degrees. We readjusted ours once again so that we were flying at the same speed and the same direction as the U.S. spy plane.

Our planes were on the inner side of Hainan and the U.S. plane was on the outer side. Two minutes later, the U.S. plane suddenly swerved at a wide angle toward our direction and collided over the plane Wang Wei was flying. I saw the nose and left wing of the U.S. plane bump into Wang Wei's plane and the left outer propeller of the U.S. plane's left wing smash the vertical tail surface of Wang Wei's plane.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Who do you think is responsible for this collision incident?

ZHAO YU: The U.S. side is fully responsible for this collision. It was directly caused by the collision of the U.S. plane veering at a wide angle toward our plane, making it impossible for our plane to avoid it. The U.S. plane severely violated flying rules, so they should hold full responsibility. It is our duty to identify any midair objects that would endanger our national security and to track them. As Wang Wei's comrade in arms on the same mission, I am especially worried for his safety. I hope our rescue efforts will bring him back to us. I am very grateful for the government's and the navy's concern over his safety. I am indignant at the actions of the U.S. spy plane crashing our plane right at our doorsteps.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Once again, that was Zhao Yu, the second pilot that was up in the air during the time of the collision. The other pilot, Wang Wei, has been missing since the time of that collision. U.S. officials have not been able to, of course, meet and debrief the American pilot to get his version of what took place during that collision -- Stephen?

STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: And while that description is interesting, Daryn, that pilot is not principle to the negotiations underway now at the State Department, which has been engaged in ongoing talks with Chinese officials.

CNN's Andrea Koppel at the State Department with more now -- Andrea, good morning again.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Stephen.

Well, State Department officials are waiting and watching just like the rest of us to see what comes out of that meeting now going on on Hainan Island between U.S. envoys and the 24 crew members. The last time they met earlier this week U.S. officials said that they didn't have unfettered access, is the way that they like to put it, that the meeting itself was restricted. You had Chinese officials who were present. They were tape recording the session. They only had about 40 minutes and the actual conversation, the topics in the conversation were restricted. They were only able to talk about the pilots' and the crew members' health and how they were doing and things of that nature.

So U.S. officials are hopeful that they're going to hear more about the crew members, the American crew members' perspective on just what happened during that midair collision both leading up to it and after it.

At this hour, Stephen, Secretary of State Colin Powell is over at the White House meeting with officials over there. As of what's going to happen here at the State Department today, I'm told that there are no plans right now to have the Chinese ambassador to Washington, who's been a frequent visitor here this week, to have him come over again. But that's always a possibility.

It's 12 hours ahead in China so it's 10 o'clock in the evening there, and apparently U.S. Ambassador Prueher, the U.S. ambassador to China, may still have some meetings over there with Chinese foreign ministry officials. So really what's happening is sort of a ping- ponging between Washington, Beijing and Hainan, 24 hour diplomacy, really, to try to win the release of those 24 crew members -- Stephen. FRAZIER: Which means 24 hour reporting at the State Department. Andrea Koppel, thanks, Andrea -- Daryn?

KAGAN: As we mentioned at the top of the newscast, our producer Lisa Rose Weaver on the ground in Hainan Island was in a news conference with Chinese officials. That news conference has just ended, so let's bring Lisa Rose in with the latest -- Lisa, what do you have? What did you learn at this news conference?

LISA ROSE WEAVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, both sides made a brief statement. The Chinese side began. The person making it was the director of the Hainan foreign affairs office. In the statement he said that the visit tonight of, between the 24 crew members and the U.S. officials was with the permission of the Chinese side, that they had allowed this. They reiterated that the American spy plane illegally intruded into China's air space.

It went on to say that the investigation of the incident has not yet been completed as far as China is concerned, but that nonetheless out of humanitarian considerations, China had allowed U.S. embassy and consulate officials to visit the American air crew again.

Now, after he spoke, Lieutenant General Seagate (sic) spoke. He said that -- Sealock, pardon me. He thanked the Chinese side for granting access to the crew members and he reiterated the U.S.' hope that the crew members will be released soon. No particular dates of this were mentioned in the statements.

He noted that in terms of the treatment of the crew, that he was happy to learn that the supplies that the U.S. consular officials had purchased for the crew had been delivered to the crew. He said that they were in good spirits when he met them tonight and that they were looking forward to getting released.

KAGAN: Lisa, any more details on this meeting, on what they were able to learn? You mentioned the mood of the crew. I think last we heard, the first time officials met, these people were still in the same clothes that they had been in for a number of days.

WEAVER: Yes, no. No details came out in the statement. There are a number of questions, of course, about the condition of the crew, but also what questions the Chinese officials may have asked them. They yesterday admitted that it had interrogated and asked questions of the crew. Nobody said anything about that in this joint statement.

Also, nothing was mentioned about the airplane. The airplane remains on the Lingshui air field in the south part of the island. So it's going to remain to be seen what exactly came out of the details of the meeting between the U.S. consular officials and the crew.

At this point both sides are being quite polite about the matter and recognizing, the Chinese side saying that it allowed this meeting out of humanitarian considerations and the U.S. side thanking the Chinese side for this meeting tonight.

KAGAN: So does this meeting that we've been waiting for, that there was some confusion having taken place, it appears now it did, indeed, start, has taken place and is complete on Hainan Island.

WEAVER: Yes, correct. It got a late start, but it did take place. It lasted for about an hour and ended some half, some 30 minutes ago.

KAGAN: Lisa Rose Weaver on Hainan Island, thank you very much -- Stephen?

FRAZIER: These latest developments reported by Lisa Rose coming as correspondents at the White House are breaking up from a morning get together they call the morning gaggle. And there was a little news at this morning's gaggle. Let's go to Major Garrett now at the White House for some sense of that -- Major, good morning again.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning.

Yes, a little bit of news at that gaggle, as we call it here at the White House. It's an informal session with Ari Fleischer in his office. No cameras allowed. I can tell you that he says the president believes we are moving forward. That's in reaction to confirmation here at the White House after some confusion this morning that, in fact, that crucial second meeting has, in fact, occurred between the U.S. service personnel, the 24 crew members of that EP-3, and U.S. diplomats.

But that's really all the White House wants to say at the moment. At one point, under some rather intense questioning, Ari Fleischer said, "Listen, I'm going to choose my words very carefully right now." The White House also is not in the position to confirm right now what the U.S. ambassador in China had said earlier, which is that there would be a third meeting tomorrow. The White House is saying no confirmation on that. This is the second meeting, we know it's happening, we'll sift through the facts and all the things that we learn from that meeting and notify you later as to what other developments may, in fact, transpire.

As to continued requests from Chinese of a full apology from the president of the United States, Ari Fleischer said the president has said what he has said. He's not deviating from that. He's expressed his regret and that's where we're going to leave it -- Stephen?

FRAZIER: Major Garrett, while we're talking, we want to let viewers see this picture that we have gained some rights to of the crew in Hainan Island. It's a photo which purports to show the 21 men and three American women on board that plane. Little is made of the fact that there's three American women who are crew members on the EP- 3A and I'm sure -- EP-3E and I'm sure, Major, that this is of great value to the White House, just trying to get some sense photographic as well as insight from the Americans who've visited these crew members that they're well and safe and sound.

GARRETT: Absolutely. From the White House perspective, all evidence that the crew is being well treated at least helps them deal with a secondary public relations problem here, that is, a sense in the United States that maybe the crew is not being taken care of so well. And if there is a sense that that's true, perhaps there would be more public pressure and certainly more Congressional pressure on President Bush to intensify the rhetoric.

This photograph will at least help the White House in the sense that it's proof, photographic proof, and the first we've had, that the crew is, in fact, in good health and looks to be in perfectly good health, looks to be unharmed, looks to be under no particular duress. And I would also point out that as far as Congress is concerned, the White House is generally very satisfied that most members of Congress have, at the administration's urging, kept a very level head, have not inflamed the rhetoric, have not been accusatory toward the Chinese, at least not yet.

There are several Congressional delegations due to leave tomorrow for trips to China, to various parts of China. The administration has not discouraged any of those trips from actually taking place. As a matter of fact, though members of Congress have, at least for now, either put those trips in abeyance or canceled them, but not at the administration's urging -- Stephen?

FRAZIER: Thanks for those latest insights, Major Garrett at the White House this morning -- Daryn?

KAGAN: Well, no one is the situation more frustrating for than the family members who are waiting desperately for word of their loved ones who are being held in China. Let's meet one of those family members, the father of one of the U.S. servicemen detained in China says that he didn't know his son was on the plane until the Navy called.

John Bensing is the father of Ensign Richard Bensing and he's joining us live from Tampa. Mr. Bensing, good morning. Thanks for joining us.

JOHN BENSING, FATHER OF ENSIGN RICHARD BENSING: Good morning. Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Let's go right to our latest news. I don't know if you saw the picture that we were able to put that came from some of the people who are in captivity, but let's go ahead and put that picture up. Do you have a monitor where you are? Can you see?

BENSING: Yeah, I can see.

KAGAN: Can you tell us if you can see your son in that picture anywhere?

BENSING: It's kind of difficult. No, I don't recognize...

KAGAN: You don't? In fact, I'd seen a picture of him. I also don't spot him as well. This must have been, this has been a frustrating morning, I can imagine, for you, this meeting that was going to take place with the diplomats. It was taking place, it wasn't taking place and now we've just gotten news that, indeed, this meeting has taken place and for about an hour.

BENSING: Well, that's enlightening and it's very encouraging.

KAGAN: What kind of updates are you getting?

BENSING: Pretty much the same ones that you all are getting.

KAGAN: When did you first hear?

BENSING: When did I first hear of the incident?

KAGAN: Um-hmm. Yeah.

BENSING: Six o'clock Sunday morning.

KAGAN: And you got a call from the Navy, I imagine or...

BENSING: I did.

KAGAN: And what did they say?

BENSING: They said that you all were going to be breaking the story pretty soon and they wanted me to hear it from them before I heard it from you.

KAGAN: They told you that if you were watching CNN you were going to hear it and so they wanted you to hear it first?

BENSING: Exactly.

KAGAN: Let's talk about your son, Richard. He's an interesting story in himself. I mean he's an ensign, but he's not exactly a spring chicken as far as ensigns go, is he?

BENSING: He's probably the oldest ensign in the U.S. Navy, I think.

KAGAN: What is his story?

BENSING: He graduated from high school, went into the Navy out of high school, was in the Navy for about six or seven years and applied for OCT, the Navy's...

KAGAN: OCT for the non-military types out there?

BENSING: Officer training.

KAGAN: OK.

BENSING: And the Navy accepted that application, sent him to San Diego State. He graduated from San Diego State and was commissioned an ensign about two years ago.

KAGAN: And since then has been, has he been at Whidbey Island in Washington State or is this new?

BENSING: He was never in Washington State.

KAGAN: Oh, he wasn't?

BENSING: He was based out of San Diego and then he was based over in Japan and I, from my knowledge, he still is in Japan.

KAGAN: When was the last time you had a chance to talk?

BENSING: About a month ago.

KAGAN: About a month ago. And what was the news then? Certainly not as newsworthy as what he's been through lately.

BENSING: We don't discuss his profession.

KAGAN: You don't? Just personal? Just dad and son kind of stuff?

BENSING: Exactly.

KAGAN: Very good. Now, when you look at this situation, how this has been going, the diplomacy that's been going back and forth between the Americans and the Chinese, do you get frustrated when people are getting all caught up on this language like apology? As a dad, do you just feel like just apologize and bring my son home?

BENSING: We've all heard the Chinese say that they wouldn't release the detainees without an apology. I don't think any of us have heard them say that they would release the detainees with an apology.

KAGAN: So you think that they might just then raise the bar and you don't want the Americans to get caught?

BENSING: I don't want the Americans to get caught. I don't think an apology is in our best interests.

KAGAN: Another language, word that people have gotten tripped up on is hostage. Do you consider your son a hostage?

BENSING: No.

KAGAN: You don't? Why not?

BENSING: He's not being, they're not being treated, from what I see, as hostages. They're being treated as detainees. I think that's a very good phraseology.

KAGAN: Have you been able to get any message from your son? I know some of the crew members have been able to send messages through the diplomats that have met with them.

BENSING: No, I have not.

KAGAN: And so what has your family done since Sunday in terms of waiting? How do you get through something like this?

BENSING: We communicate a lot, I'll tell you that.

KAGAN: I bet you do. But in terms of -- do you sit by the phone or? BENSING: No, I don't sit by the phone.

KAGAN: No?

BENSING: I just get, catch up on what's going on when I get back from doing whatever I'm going to be doing during the course of a day.

KAGAN: And any thoughts of when your son is released of any kind of homecoming or what you'll have to say to him the next time you get to talk to him?

BENSING: We haven't gone that far yet as far as planning a reunion.

KAGAN: But one thing at a time. Well, John Bensing, I know this is a difficult time as you wait for word of your son and we do appreciate you stopping by and letting us know how your family is doing and also sharing your son's story, which is definitely interesting, indeed.

BENSING: Thank you.

KAGAN: Very good. John Bensing joining us from Tampa, Florida.

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