China's military warns US over plane crisis

BEIJING - China's powerful military establishment weighed in to the crisis over 24 detained US air crew early today by vowing that the United States would not be allowed to escape responsibility for the spy plane incident.

But as the crew of the surveillance aircraft began a second week in custody on Hainan Island, US Vice President Dick Cheney insisted that Washington had no intention of apologising for their mid-air collision which downed a Chinese fighter.

The hardline stand by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), reported in major newspapers, could prolong the crisis, analysts said. But Chinese and US officials went on with work on drafting a joint communiqu aimed at resolving the dispute.

Secretary of State Colin Powell warned that it was damaging relations and demanded the crew's immediate release. He said there was no evidence of US responsibility for the crash.

Chinese leaders are anxious to avoid a meltdown in China-US ties. But any compromise they make would have to take into consideration the reaction of hawkish generals.

China has demanded a full apology for last Monday's crash off its south coast. But the United States insists it will not go further than expressing regret for the lost Chinese pilot.

The main military newspaper, the Liberation Army Daily, quoted Defence Minister Chi Haotian saying the collision was "entirely caused by the US side." China "will not let them push the blame onto others," he said.

In an indication that the military could delay any quick resolution of the crisis, the paper said Chinese authorities had the right to conduct "a full and thorough investigation of the entire incident, including those responsible on the
US military plane and the US military plane itself."

And it demanded the United States halt surveillance flights off China's coast.

- REUTERS

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China Daily

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Official site of Chinese Government

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Jane's Military Aerospace: EP3

US Pacific Command