Newsday 04/09/2001 - Monday - Page A 5 Raising the Risks

China refuses to allow visits to entire crew

by William Douglas

Washington Bureau Washington-After China refused to let U.S. officials see the entire crew of a downed Navy spy plane, the Bush administration warned that relations between the two countries-already strained-could suffer more damage if a quick resolution to the diplomatic standoff is not found.

As the 24-member crew of the Navy EP-3 entered its second week in custody on China's Hainan Island, senior Bush administration officials repeated that the United States will not apologize for the mid-air collision between the American turboprop and a Chinese F-8 jet over the South China Sea.

In appearances on television news shows yesterday, Bush's foreign policy team indicated there could be repercussions if Beijing and Washington can't resolve their disagreements soon.

"I don't want to put a timetable on it, every day that goes by without having it resolved raises the risks to the long-term relationship," Vice President Dick Cheney said on NBC's "Meet The Press." Diplomatic efforts, that Cheney called "intense," appeared to suffer a setback yesterday as U.S. officials' access to the EP-3 crew was limited by Chinese officials.

American officials on Hainan Island were allowed to see only eight crew members. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said U.S. officials had to pick which crew members to see. A State Department spokesman yesterday said the eight who were seen relayed that the others were in good condition.

"We have clearly said to the Chinese that we want access to our people and we want unfettered access to our people," Rice said on CNN's "Late Edition." According to Chinese news accounts, Washington's refusal to apologize remains unacceptable. And China's top military newspaper, the Liberation Army Daily, said Beijing is entitled to "thoroughly investigate" the EP-3 and its crew. Powell yesterday described talks with the Chinese as at "occasional loggerheads," but expressed confidence that "we'll be able to get around these barriers." Still, Powell said the U.S.-China standoff has already produced a negative impact.

He said congressional delegations have canceled scheduled trips to China and some U.S. businesses have said they will not visit China during the controversy.

"They're also saying, 'You know, Secretary Powell, you'll have a more difficult time with...getting another permanent normal trade relations bill through if you don't get World Trade Organization accession this year,'" Powell said on Fox News Sunday.

On Capitol Hill, a growing chorus of Republicans and Democrats, who supported Bush's efforts last week, are frustrated by the lack of diplomatic results and say they may review whether China should retain the favorable trading status granted by Congress last year as part of China's drive to join the WTO.

"We are still supporting access to WTO but I can say that if we have to go for a vote on normal trading relations again, this situation has not improved their chances of winning that again," Powell said. "The relationship is being damaged." Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), who voted for permanent normal trade relations status for China last year, echoed Powell's sentiments.

"I would have to say I, along with many others, now are obligated to take a very close look," Warner said. "So yes, it will have an impact on that decision in the not distant future in Congress." But Bush still enjoys strong support from key lawmakers of both parties.

"It's very important for the Chinese to realize that we are unified on this," said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Bush administration officials have asked lawmakers to hold their tongues, in hopes that a low-key diplomatic approach would win the release of the air crew.

Hoping not to get mired in the type of lengthy hostage crisis that consumed Jimmy Carter's presidency, White House officials engaged in a clash of semantics with lawmakers and Bush's own secretary of state.

Powell last week called the air crew detainees, a description Bush did not share. Some lawmakers, including Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), referred to the crew as hostages.

"The idea that this is something that is a hostage situation is something I wouldn't accept," Cheney said on "Meet The Press." "It's important to avoid using hot-button words." Bush also has come under fire from conservatives, who say he needs to get tougher on China.

In a four-page editorial, the conservative Weekly Standard said Bush has "revealed weakness" and concluded "the American capitulation will also embolden others around the world." "Lots of times I agree with them," Cheney said of the magazine, "but, frankly, I think that's one of the more disreputable commentaries I've seen in a long time."

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001