[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   SENATE RESOLUTION 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

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

                               S. Res. 81

       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.

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