Chinese to free spy plane crew after US 'very sorry'

BEIJING -The crew of the American spy plane detained on Hainan Island since a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter are to be released after the United States sent Beijing a letter saying it was "very sorry" for the incident.

However, the letter stopped short of accepting responsibility.

It was handed to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan yesterday by US Ambassador Joseph Prueher.

Mr Tang was quoted by the official Xinhua news agency as saying the crew would be allowed to go after "completing the necessary procedures."

Agence France Presse reported early today that a chartered commercial airliner was on its way to Hainan Island to pick up the 24 members of the spy plane's crew, who have been held since the collision on April 1.

The pilot of the Chinese F-8 fighter is still missing after parachuting into the South China Sea.

The letter said President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell "have expressed their sincere regret over your missing pilot and aircraft."

"Please convey to the Chinese people and to the family of pilot Wang Wei that we are very sorry for their loss.

"We are very sorry the entering of China's airspace and the landing did not have verbal clearance, but very pleased the crew landed safely."

However, it stopped short of accepting blame for the incident and stressed that the full picture of what happened was still unclear.

Mr Tang told Mr Prueher the United States must "take full responsibility for the incident, provide convincing explanations to the Chinese people, stop its reconnaissance activities above the Chinese coast and take measures to stop the recurrence of such incidents."

He said China understood that the American people and families of the 24 "are eagerly looking forward to an early return of the crew and a reunion with them."

However, Xinhua said Mr Tang insisted that the matter was not over.

- AGENCIES

Herald Online feature: Spy plane standoff

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China Daily

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Official site of Chinese Government

China People's Daily

Jane's Military Aerospace: EP3

US Pacific Command