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FM Spokesman on Letter From U.S. Saying "Very Sorry"
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi Wednesday evening answered questions on the letter from the U.S. government to Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan saying "very sorry" for the plane collision incident.
Sun said out of humanitarian considerations, the Chinese Government has decided to allow the U.S. crew members to leave China after completing the necessary procedures. However, it must be pointed out that this case has not concluded yet. The two sides will continue their negotiations on this incident and other related issues.
He said according to international law and the provisions of the relevant laws of China, the Chinese side has every right to conduct a comprehensive investigation of this incident. The Chinese side will reserve the right to make further representations with the U.S. side and handle the incident on the basis of results of the investigation.
Sun demanded that the U.S. side take seriously the solemn representations made by the Chinese side, stop sending aircraft to the vicinity of China's coast for reconnaissance activities and take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
US Letter to China Says "Very Sorry" for Incident
Mr. Joseph Prueher, US Ambassador to China and the representative plenipotentiary of the US Government for handling the incident of a US military reconnaissance plane ramming into and destroying a Chinese military aircraft, handed a letter to Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan at 5:30 pm on 11 April at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, to say "very sorry" for the incident.
It is stated in the US letter that "both President Bush and Secretary of State 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." The US side goes on to say that it is "very sorry the entering of China's airspace and the landing did not have verbal clearance."
People's Daily on U.S. Government's Letter of "Very Sorry"
The People's Daily publishes a commentary Thursday on the U.S. government's letter expressing that the U.S. side is "very sorry" about that the Chinese pilot is missing and "very sorry" about that the U.S. surveillance plane entered China's territory without approval on April 1.
The firm struggle by the Chinese government and people against U.S. hegemony has forced the U.S. government to change from its initial rude and unreasonable attitude to saying "very sorry" to the Chinese people, says the commentary titled "To Turn Patriotic Enthusiasm into Strength to Build a Powerful Nation".
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