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American Morning

U.S./China Relations: Inspection Crew Heads to China

Aired April 30, 2001 - 10:03   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: A team of American technical experts is on its way to China for the first hands-on inspection of the detained surveillance plane. The aircraft has been held on Hainan Island since April 1, when a midair collision with a Chinese fighter jet forced an emergency landing.

Beijing says it's currently negotiating with the U.S. on some form of payment, presumably paving the way for the plane's release. Vice President Dick Cheney is qualifying that condition, however. He says any such payment should be only for legitimate costs, such as for barges or cranes used to transport the plane.

For more, here's CNN's Beijing bureau chief, Rebecca MacKinnon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On his last day in China, the U.S. ambassador welcomed Beijing's unexpected gesture.

JOSEPH PRUEHER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: We're pleased that we were able to get an initial step to get the first start.

MACKINNON: As U.S. officials prepare to inspect the spy plane, what next? The Chinese foreign ministry will not comment on a report in China's state-controlled media that the U.S. agreed to make a payment to China. Beijing still wants the U.S. to take responsibility for the April 1 collision and for the death of fighter pilot Wang Wei.

But diplomats are telling Beijing there will be no compensation.

PRUEHER: I think what the vice president talked about yesterday is discussing some payment for things associated with the return of the aircraft are the only things we're going to discuss.

MACKINNON: So why did Beijing suddenly offer to allow inspection of the U.S. plane? One reason given by government media here is that China's own inspection of the EP-3 is now finished. Chinese analysts have another reason for their government's olive branch.

JIA QINGGUO, PEKING UNIVERSITY: They want to make sure that this issue will not be hijacked by the American right-wingers and racists imposing a policy of containment against China. MACKINNON: U.S. President Bush infuriated Beijing last week when he announced a substantial arms sale to Taiwan and pledged to do what it takes to defend the island Beijing considers part of China.

(on camera): Given China's harsh response last week to the Bush administration's latest moves, diplomats here say they were surprised by the sudden gesture on the spy plane issue. But for whatever reason, it appears that China's leadership have decided that they had to do something to keep the U.S.-China relationship from getting any worse.

Rebecca MacKinnon, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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