[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5465]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 DETENTION OF 24 CREW MEMBERS IN CHINA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. WILSON. Mr. Speaker, 24 Americans are currently being detained 
in China under circumstances that are unacceptable. Today, the Chinese 
ambassador has said that the crew members are in China because the 
investigation is going on, and China's foreign minister has asked for 
an apology. The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reports that the American 
ambassador was admonished and told that the U.S. has displayed an 
arrogant air, used lame arguments, confused right and wrong, and made 
groundless acquisitions against China.



  America has nothing to apologize for. Our aircraft was operating in 
international air space when Chinese interceptors came close to 
investigate it. They came too close and caused a mid-air collision.
  Mr. Speaker, we all know that sometimes in international politics, 
statements are made for internal consumption rather than for the ears 
of other powers. But the Chinese government needs to understand that 
here in Congress we are listening and watching. Their action or failure 
to act has consequences. This is an unusual situation in which an 
American military aircraft had to make an emergency landing on Chinese 
soil. I am supportive of the President's desire to keep this accident 
from becoming an international incident, but every hour that goes by 
without the return of our crew makes the likelihood of continued good 
relations between our two nations less achievable.
  I have supported free trade with China and engagement with China's 
people. That and more is at risk, and not all of it is under the 
control of the President and his administration. In the coming months 
this House may consider China's access to the WTO, arms sales to 
Taiwan, military to military, cultural and scientific exchanges, as 
well as an array of other issues important to China.
  We have allowed the Chinese government time to do the right thing. We 
know the difference between right and wrong. Now it is time for our 
servicemen and women to be returned home.

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