[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 81 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 81

  Commending the members of the United States mission in the People's 
 Republic of China for their persistence, devotion to duty, sacrifice, 
and success in obtaining the safe repatriation to the United States of 
 the crew of the Navy EP-3E ARIES II aircraft who had been detained in 
                                 China.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 3, 2001

Mr. Helms (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Kerry) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commending the members of the United States mission in the People's 
 Republic of China for their persistence, devotion to duty, sacrifice, 
and success in obtaining the safe repatriation to the United States of 
 the crew of the Navy EP-3E ARIES II aircraft who had been detained in 
                                 China.

Whereas, on March 31, 2001, two fighter aircraft of the People's Republic of 
        China intercepted a United States Navy EP-3E ARIES II maritime patrol 
        aircraft on a routine reconnaissance mission in international airspace 
        over the China Sea;
Whereas one of the two Chinese aircraft collided with the United States 
        aircraft, jeopardizing the lives of its 24 crewmembers, causing serious 
        damage, and forcing the United States aircraft commander, Navy 
        Lieutenant Shane Osborn, to issue a ``MAYDAY'' distress call and perform 
        an emergency landing at a Chinese airfield on Hainan Island;
Whereas, in violation of international norms, the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China detained the United States aircrew for 11 days, 
        initially refusing the requests of United States consular and military 
        officials for access to the crew; and
Whereas the persistence and devotion to duty of the members of the United States 
        mission in the People's Republic of China resulted in the release of all 
        members of the United States aircrew on April 12, 2001: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate hereby commends the members of the United 
States mission in the People's Republic of China, and other responsible 
officials of the Departments of State and Defense, for their 
outstanding performance in obtaining the safe repatriation to the 
United States of the crew of the Navy EP-3E ARIES II aircraft.
                                 <all>