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CNN Live Sunday
U.S., China Still Locked in Standoff Over 24 Navy Crewmembers
Aired April 08, 2001 - 16:01 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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: As it enters it second week, the standoff between the United States and China shows no public sign of defusing. Today, China again insisted that the United States take responsibility for the collision of a Navy spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet.
For the latest developments, we are joined by CNN's Major Garrett at the White House and CNN's Andrea Koppel at the State Department. Major, we'll start with you at the White House.
MAJOR GARRET, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Donna. A couple of developments today. First and foremost, the president of the United States, in a very important personal gesture, has written a letter to the wife of Wang Wei, who is the Chinese fighter pilot who is missing and presumed dead after that midair collision a week ago. The White House describes letter as a humanitarian gesture. White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said it is unrelated to the ongoing negotiations to win the release of the 24 crewmembers held in Chinese custody.
Also, the White House has confirmed that in its most recent meeting with those crewmembers on Hainan Island, U.S. officials were allowed to see only eight of the 24 crewmembers. The national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said on CNN's "LATE EDITION" that was not helpful to resolving the standoff, and administration officials made clear in several forums on Sunday television talk shows today that they are growing increasingly impatient with this standoff.
Vice President Cheney said it could very seriously harm U.S.- Chinese relations.
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RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's important to recognize that every day that goes by without resolution of this does lead to the possible risk of lasting damage, if you will, to the relationship between the United States and China.
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GARRETT: Now, negotiations are continuing, and the United States likes to describe that as road map laid down before the Chinese officials to resolved this. But the national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, says that road map has had a few bumps and the situation had best be resolved quickly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We laid out some time ago now for the Chinese government a kind of road map to try and resolve this crisis. The situation has gone on too long, and it is time now to resolve the problem. We believe that we are still on that road map, although, clearly, there have been a few detours and there's been some bumpiness along the way. But we do believe that we are on a path that could resolve this crisis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GARRETT: Key word to hang upon there, possible, is "could," "could resolve this crisis": the first suggestion in a couple of days from senior administration officials that they are not so sure as they were feeling on Friday that the negotiations would in fact lead to a breakthrough -- Donna.
KELLEY: Major Garrett at the White House. Thank you. And CNN's Andrea Koppel has been following the underlying diplomacy to free the 24 U.S. crewmembers and she joins us from the State Department -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon. It's been a relatively quiet day here this afternoon, Donna. There were no meetings with the Chinese ambassador to Washington, who had been a frequent visitor here to the State Department last week.
But in fact, negotiations have continued, certainly, in Beijing as both sides try to mediate a difference, try to mediate their differences and craft a statement or a letter that would be acceptable to both sides. The sticking point continues to be the Chinese demand for an apology from the Bush administration. Today, Secretary of State Powell, appearing on the Sunday talk shows, made a step in that direction.
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COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have expressed regrets and we've expressed our sorrow and we are sorry that a life was lost. The only life lost to this point was that of the Chinese pilot, and I consider it a proper thing to express our regrets and sorrow over that. The question of apology is something quite different because then we are being asked to accept responsibility, and that we have not done, can't do, and therefore won't apologize for that.
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KOPPEL: And the Bush administration is not alone in its insistence that an apology is not in order. Today, Capitol Hill lawmakers reiterated their support, bilateral support, for the Bush administration stance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: Right now, there is no division that I know of between Democrats and Republicans on this issue. The only opposition I'm hearing from is from the extreme right in the country on this.
We stand with the president. We don't think an apology is needed. I think the president did a very wise thing in sending the widow of this pilot a letter. Colin Powell said we're all sorry about what happened, and we are, truly, about what happened. We regret what happened, but we're not going to apologize until we know what happened, and so I think...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: So, where do we go from here? State Department officials say that right now, the negotiations, the discussions, all of them are taking place, for the most part, in Beijing, where it's now about 4:00 in the morning. They say expect the U.S. ambassador to China, Joseph Prueher, to pick up ball in Beijing when it gets daylight there, hoping to have more meetings with Foreign Ministry officials, Donna, as they continue to try to narrow the gaps and end this standoff of the last week.
KELLEY: Andrea Koppel at the State Department. Thank you.
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