Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Plane U.S. Made for China Was Filled With Listening Devices

Aired January 19, 2002 - 11:09   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In other news that we're following this morning, there's word that a plane that was made in the USA for China's President contained, well some unwanted features. Reports in the Washington Post and the Financial Times say that China found more than 20 hi-tech listening devices hidden in the plane. The 767 is similar to the one you see here. It was made by Boeing, but refitted by other contractors.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, this matter undoubtedly will come up when President Bush meets with the Chinese leader next month. Joining us with reaction from the White House this morning is CNN's Kelly Wallace. Good morning again, Kelly. Boy, every time we visit you, it's just a little whiter at the White House.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I know. I feel like we should turn this into weather reports each hour from the White House because the snow definitely accumulating here in Washington.

But Miles, back to the issue we are talking about. No comment really is the reaction coming from the White House regarding allegations that a Boeing plane, which was shipped and purchased by the Chinese, was found to have more than 20 listening devices on it, a spokesman here saying, "we never discuss these types of allegations," and a spokesman at the CIA pretty much saying the same thing saying, "on these types of allegations, as a matter of policy, we just don't comment."

But talking to some national security experts, they say that if these allegations are true, it really should not be a big surprise. They say that this is really business as usual, the way the game is played, that the United States spies on the Chinese and that the Chinese spy on the United States.

Of course though, Miles, as you mentioned this does come just about a month before President Bush makes his first official state visit to Beijing next month. The two men, President Bush and President Jiang Zemin, did meet for the very first time in the fall. The President was in Shanghai attending an economic summit. But their meeting next month will be Mr. Bush's first official state visit to the country.

Many believe that the Chinese are likely to file some type of protest with the American Government and make that protest public, but the big question is, will this have any impact on relations between the two countries?

U.S. officials certainly say that relations have been improving steadily, ever since that crisis last April. That is when the Chinese detained members of that flight crew, after that U.S. reconnaissance plane did come down on Chinese territory. But officials felt that after that crisis was resolved, and certainly in the War against Terrorism the two countries have been able to work together.

And, Miles, just going back to something you sort of asked earlier. Again, this is a little bit of business as usual, that the U.S. does spy on other countries. Other countries spy on the U.S. And if you recall, the United States and the Russians have been engaging in this game for quite some time.

You'll remember back in December of 1999, bugging devices were found throughout the State Department, believed to be the work of the Russians. You also can recall in the early 1980s, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow found to have a number of bugs, again believed to be planted by the Russians, that that embassy really had to be stripped and built up again.

And then, of course, we can recall that it was just early last year when the Russians were complaining to the Americans about this underground tunnel that was found at the embassy here, the Russian Embassy, formerly the Soviet Embassy, now the Russian Embassy, again believed to be the work of the Americans spying on the Russians.

So the big message is, this is really business as usual, but of course, the Chinese can be very upset and might complain publicly. We just don't know what impact it will have on relations between the two countries. Miles, back to you.

O'BRIEN: But I think, Kelly, it's worth pointing out that in all those cases you just laid out, it kind of blew over fairly quickly because there's sort of a wink and a nod deal they all have on spying, right?

WALLACE: Exactly. Complaints filed in public, public protest, you know the Russians angry when they found out about that underground tunnel. The United States certainly angry about any bugs found at the State Department or the Embassy, but again moving on, knowing that this is again business as usual.

This is a little different, Miles, as we've discussed earlier. It is an American plane that we know was going from Seattle, went to San Antonio. There it was refitted and lots of devices or equipment added. That is where allegedly, possibly these devices the Chinese say may have been added, and then the plane makes its way to the Chinese. It is the President's plane, devices found in his bedroom, his bathroom.

So it may rise to a different level, and may get the country very angry, but if you look at the history, this is really what goes on. One person we talked to, actually our national security affairs expert David Ensor, really pointing out that this goes on all the time, and if the Chinese had an opportunity to spy on the United States in the same way, they certainly could take advantage of that. Miles.

O'BRIEN: I guess the President will be looking very carefully into his kung pow chicken the next time he orders it. All right, Kelly Wallace.

WALLACE: I guess so.

O'BRIEN: Thanks you very much. Stay dry and warm there.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com