Text: Wilson Says Delay in Crew's Return Threatens U.S.-China Ties
(Congress is watching China's actions, lawmaker says)Delay in returning the crew of the American aircraft that collided with a Chinese fighter plane over the South China Sea April 1 makes it harder to maintain good relations with Beijing, says Representative Heather Wilson (Republican of New Mexico).
"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," Wilson said in an April 4 speech in the House of Representatives.
Wilson, a former U.S. Air Force officer, is the chairwoman of the Republican Policy Committee's subcommittee on National Security, and sits on the House Armed Services Committee.
"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," Wilson told fellow lawmakers.
"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," said Wilson, a one-time member of the National Security Council.
"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," she said.
Following is the text of Representative Heather Wilson's April 4 speech from the Congressional Record:
(begin text)
DETENTION OF 24 CREW MEMBERS IN CHINA
House of Representatives
April 04, 2001Mrs. 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.
(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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