[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1356-H1357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H1357]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, China is holding two dozen American 
citizens who were forced to make an emergency landing after an air 
collision that appears to be the fault of the Chinese Air Force. They 
are not just holding American citizens, they are also holding very 
sensitive American technology.
  Causing this collision and holding the plane and its crew are 
flagrant violations of international agreements China is party to. What 
other agreements will they violate? It may be China is saber-rattling 
to try to keep us from protecting our national interests. Maybe they 
are trying to keep us from assisting our friends in Taiwan. Perhaps 
China is testing our new President to see what he is made of.
  President Bush should make it clear, we will defend our national 
interests. We will make sure Taiwan can defend itself; we should sell 
Taiwan the Aegis cruisers and the Patriot missiles they need to defend 
themselves.
  Madam Speaker, China should not test America. It is in China's 
interest to return that plane and its crew to us immediately.

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