Careful language saves day for detained crew

Some of the crew are pictured in a photo obtained by CNN

In this story: No apology Discussions to continue RELATED STORIES, SITES

HAIKOU, China (CNN) -- The letter that secured the release of 24 U.S. fliers detained in China capped 11 days of intense negotiations that boiled down to semantics and translation nuance.

In the end, both China and the United States claimed they had what they wanted -- even if it appeared their positions had been mutually exclusive.

TRANSCRIPTS Text of U.S. letter expressing 'sincere regret' Text of Bush's remarks    RESOURCES U.S.-China agreement: What's next? Overnight calls brought word of release deal    VIDEO Families of crew member show their emotions while talking about the news Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) A Chinese government official reads a statement announcing the decision Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) U.S. Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher praises the release Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Watch Bush's reaction to the announcement Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    AUDIO CNN's Mike Chinoy discusses how the Chinese media is reporting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's comments 699K/64 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    IN-DEPTH U.S.-China Collision: A diplomatic solution  • About freighter returning EP-3  • Look: Inside the EP-3  • Facts about the EP-3  • Map: Locating the incident  • Big picture: High stakes  • Classroom discussion guide  • Historical US-China timeline  • Whidbey arrival images  • Crew speaks out  • Crew's return images

China wanted an apology and an acceptance of responsibility for the April 1 collision between a U.S. Navy surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter jet that downed the Chinese craft and forced the badly damaged American plane to an emergency landing on China's southern Hainan Island.

But the United States insisted it had done nothing wrong, nothing to cause the crash that had occurred over international waters.

During the week-and-a-half of negotiations, U.S. officials expressed regret for the incident and sorrow for the loss of life, leading up to what they called "the letter of two very sorrys" from U.S. Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher to Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.

"Both President Bush and Secretary of State (Colin) Powell have expressed their sincere regret over your missing pilot and aircraft," the letter said. "Please convey to the Chinese people and to the family of pilot Wang Wei that we are very sorry for their loss."

No apology

From the U.S. perspective, the language did not include accepting responsibility or apologizing for the accident.

"Although the full picture of what transpired is still unclear, according to our information, our severely crippled aircraft made an emergency landing after following international emergency procedures," the letter said.

In a statement read by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Chen Ci in Hainan, Foreign Minister Tang said that "humanitarian considerations" prompted the release of the 24 crew members.

"Since the U.S. government has already said 'very sorry' to the Chinese people, the Chinese government has, out of humanitarian considerations, decided to allow the 24 people from the U.S. spy plane to leave after completion of the necessary procedures," the statement said.

But, Chen said, "this is not the conclusion of the case." China wants the United States to end reconnaissance missions over international waters near China, he said.

The United States, however, has said it has no intention of ending such flights in international airspace.

Discussions to continue

Prueher's letter said the United States agreed to an April 18 meeting to discuss causes of the incident, ways to avoid such collisions in the future, the return of the U.S. plane and the U.S. appreciation of Chinese "assistance in an emergency situation."

"The discussions will continue," said U.S. State Department spokesman Phil Reeker. "Right now, we're focused on the logistics, the diplomacy necessary to make sure that our crew can leave, according to the assurances the Chinese have given us. And then, a week from now, we'll take up these issues, including the very prompt return of our aircraft."

U.S. says China must move to break spy plane impasse
April 10, 2001
Chinese envoy urges Congress not to block Olympic bid
April 10, 2001
Standoff a study of semantics
April 10, 2001
China may be stripping plane
April 10, 2001
Chinese pilot's wife sends Bush emotional letter
April 6, 2001
Jiang unfazed during Latin America visit
April 6, 2001
China gains leverage in U.S. spy plane incident
April 5, 2001
Fighter pilots classed as '5'
April 5, 2001
Martyrdom for missing Chinese pilot
April 5, 2001

USCINCPAC Homepage
The Pentagon
U.S. Navy
Navy Fact File: EP-3E ORION (ARIES II) Aircraft
U.S. Department of Defense
Government of China (in Chinese)
U.S. Department of State
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the U.S.A.
Government Information Office, Republic of China

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.