China calls for end to surveillance flights

U.S. surveillance planes, flying from bases in Japan, regularly patrol along the Chinese coast

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- China's Foreign Ministry has repeated calls for the U.S. to put a halt to surveillance flights off China's coast in the wake of the spy plane standoff.

"This affair is not over yet," warned foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday saying it was up to the U.S not to do anything that might complicate the situation further.

"The Chinese side urges the United States to stop spying activities in Chinese territory and the United States should explain to the Chinese people,"

"The United States should take effective measures to prevent events like this from happening again," Zhang said. The call came a day after a U.S. spy plane crew left China after 11 days in detention on the southern island of Hainan.

QUOTE "The United States should take effective measures to prevent events like this from happening again" - Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue

The situation was finally resolved when the U.S. said it was "very sorry" for the loss of the Chinese pilot missing since the collision and also "very sorry" for having entered China's air space and landed on Hainan without "verbal clearance".

The Foreign Ministry said talks on the incident would take place in less than a week, including the fate of the EP-3 reconnaissance plane.

Comprehensive investigation

"China and the United States will hold negotiations on April 18," Zhang told reporters.

"During the negotiations both sides will discuss the reasons for this incident and also relevant issues including the handling of this case.

"China is fully entitled to conduct a comprehensive investigation concerning this plane... and will decide how to handle this aircraft based on the result of this investigation."

He also warned the United States not to do anything to further complicate matters.

"China urges the United States to pay attention to the gravity of this affair and should understand the Chinese side and treat seriously China's position and handle this affair properly," Zhang stressed.

"The U.S. should not make any wrong decisions or do anything which could complicate the matter further."

Full text of U.S. letter to China
April 11, 2001
No word yet on damaged spy plane's fate
April 11, 2001
CNN Speicial on the collision

U.S. Navy Fact File
U.S. Pacific Command
The Pentagon

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