Go Asia Pacific Breaking News Asia - China says US jet won't be returned until investigation is completed

		Asia home page \| Asia Breaking News

China says US jet won't be returned until investigation is completed

China has again said it will not return the damaged US spy plane stranded on its territory until after its collision with a Chinese fighter jet is fully investigated.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao made the comments in Venezuela, on the last leg of a tour of Latin America by President Jiang Zemin.

The assertion came on the eve of negotiations between China and the United States over the fate of the plane, which are due to start in Beijing later today.

As Tom O'Byrne reports from Beijing, the talks are expected to run for some time.

China has made no secret of its anger at the presence of American surveillance planes off its southeast coastline and see the talks as a chance to voice its opposition. While the US wants the damaged plane that was at the centre of last week's standoff returned as soon as possible, Chinese officials are letting it be known privately that their investigation into the April 1st incident will continue for some time. A contingent of American negotiators is now in Beijing - they're still hopeful the talks will vindicate the American view that the chinese pilot caused the accident and the crash landing.

18/04/01 9:01:09 | ABC Radio Australia News

More Asia Breaking News

29/05/2002 15:12:31
Indonesia appeals for action on illegal logging
29/05/2002 13:13:23
ASEAN police chiefs meet in Cambodia
29/05/2002 13:13:23
US welcomes Pakistan terrorism promise
29/05/2002 13:13:08
Indonesia appoints military and police head in Maluku islands
29/05/2002 09:12:14
New economic ratings for Vietnam
29/05/2002 09:12:10
Quake shakes Taiwan from its sleep

Back