Text: Rep. Pitts Calls for Immediate Return of U.S. Plane, Crew
(Says prompt return is in China's interest)

China "should not test America," and it is in that country's interest "to return that plane and its crew to us immediately," according to Representative Joe Pitts (Republican of Pennsylvania).

In an April 3 speech to the House of Representatives, Pitts, who founded the Electronic Warfare Working Group in the House, said the Beijing government is "not just holding American citizens, they are also holding very sensitive American technology."

Pitts, a former Air Force electronic warfare officer who flew on 116 combat missions during the Vietnam War, said the collision between the U.S. and Chinese aircraft "appears to be the fault" of the Chinese Air Force.

Following is the text of Pitts's remarks from the April 3 Congressional Record:

(begin text)

SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS
House of Representatives
April 03, 2001

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.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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