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American Morning

Bush Administration: Return of U.S. EP-3 Plane From China Equals Mission Accomplished

Aired July 05, 2001 - 09:03   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.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: The Navy spy plane stranded for three months in China arrived back at an air base in Georgia just a short time ago this morning. A Russian cargo plane carrying the disassembled aircraft landed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base this -- around 7:20 Eastern time this morning. Pentagon officials say the plane is going to be reassembled and reequipped with upgraded electronic equipment.

The spy plane made an emergency landing, you'll recall, on China's Hainan Island April 1 after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet. And the spy plane incident led to a tense standoff between Washington and Beijing, while the crew was detained for 11 days.

And CNN's White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us now with administration reaction to the plane's return to the U.S.

Hi, good morning.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Brian.

Administration official telling CNN just a few moments ago, you know when this entire episode started, the president said he had two priorities: Return our crew home safely and return the plane. So, the administration official, mission accomplished. And that's about all you're going to hear from the Bush White House today about this. They're not really drawing much attention to the EP-3's arrival back in the United States. They were never that concerned about it after the crew was released.

There was some disagreements with the Chinese government about exactly how the EP-3 would actually leave Hainan Island. It would have to be disassembled. There was some talk within the ranks of the Chinese government that it might have to go out on a barge, the United States would have to pay for that, but that all went away. The United States was able to receive the plane today. As you said, the Pentagon hopes to reassemble it, put it back in service.

It's worth pointing out that the kind of flights -- the surveillance flight that EP was undertaking have resumed along China's south coast. The United States continuing those surveillance planes and the United States is reassessing most of its relations with China. Military-to-military contacts are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Human rights remain a concern. The United States pressing for the release of four U.S.-based scholars held in China on espionage charges and trying to continue its relations on a trade level with China. The president has announced that the Congress -- he would like Congress to reapprove permanent normal trade relation status with China and also the United States continues to support China's ascension to the World Trade Organization - Brian.

NELSON: Major, if I could, could I get one thing straight from you? Are you saying that there is...

GARRETT: I'll try.

NELSON: ... there is no sense of humiliation in the administration having this U.S. plane come back to this country in pieces?

GARRETT: Humiliation would be far too strong a word. Look, there was concerns the Chinese government expressed about having another U.S. military plane come in to fly it out -- a C-5, for example. The United States said, all right, we understand your concerns about that. We'll agree to this arrangement to have the Russian cargo fly -- plane bring the plane back.

As to whether or not this is a lack of face or showing a lack of face,...

(CROSSTALK)

GARRETT: ... the United States, there really isn't a sense of that. The -- what the administration wanted: crew back, got the crew back; get the plane back, put it back in service and most importantly, keep those reconnaissance flights going which would be the real sign if the United States felt any sense of humiliation, they wouldn't have carried those on.

NELSON: OK, thanks very much, CNN's Major Garrett at the White House.

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