U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Text: Measure Praises Work Done in Securing EP-3 Crew's Return
(S. Res. 81 also criticizes China for crew's detention)

Senator Jesse Helms (Republican of North Carolina) introduced a resolution May 3 that praises the work of American diplomats in China in helping to gain the safe return of the 24-member crew of the Navy EP-3E aircraft who were detained for 11 days on Hainan Island.

Senate Resolution 81 (S. Res. 81) would have the Senate commend the members of the U.S. Mission in the People's Republic of China and other officials of the State and Defense departments "for their outstanding performance in obtaining the safe repatriation to the United States of the crew of the Navy EP-3E ARIES II aircraft."

The proposed resolution also criticizes the Beijing regime for its detention of the U.S. air crew "for 11 days, initially refusing the requests of United States consular and military officials for access to the crew," calling such actions a "violation of international norms."

Helms, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by fellow committee member Senator George Allen (Republican of Virginia), Senator Joe Biden (Democrat of Delaware), the ranking minority member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator John Kerry (Democrat of Massachusetts), the ranking minority member on the Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in sponsoring the resolution.

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
Senate
May 03, 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.

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.

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