John King: U.S. spy plane held in China and other political news

John King

John King is CNN's White House correspondent.

CNN Moderator: There are differing accounts of what happened -- the U.S. attributing fault to no one, the Chinese saying the collision was the fault of the Americans. How will we know what happened?

John King: It is likely both governments will have differing views of this - and also launch competing investigations. It is a guarantee there will be some dispute because the Chinese claim this as their airspace and most other nations reject that and consider it international airspace.

AUDIO U.S. ambassador to China Admiral Joseph Prueher says he still has not heard from the crew 932K/1:54 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Jim Eckes from Indoswiss Aviation says there are still many unanswered questions 1.2MB/1:26 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO Adm. Dennis Blair says U.S. Navy surveillance plane was in international airspace Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    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     TIMELINE Key events in U.S.-China relations since 1950     RESOURCE Map of Collision Facts about EP-3 Aries II     ALSO Air incident sparks China chat attack Japan concern over regional stability Scholars urge China to release professor China, U.S. not strangers in the skies

CNN Moderator: What is the U.S. trying to do in order to get the release of jet's crewmembers?

John King: There are U.S. diplomats on the scene in China and working the phones from here in Washington urging the Chinese government to release the crew and the plane. The first goal is to meet with the crew to determine if there are any injuries and if U.S. national security was compromised in any way now that the plane is at a Chinese military base.

Question from chat room: Have reconnaissance flights been suspended?

John King: Privately U.S. sources say no -- that these flights continue but with added precautions. But it is not a subject the military likes to talk about on the record.

CNN Moderator: How damaging was this incident to U.S. security since the Chinese may have access to this particular jet?

John King: That is a critical question from the Pentagon's standpoint, and officials acknowledge there is some technology on the plane that the Chinese would likely benefit from. But it is hard to answer those questions right now because there is such little information about what is happening on the ground.

CNN Moderator: How will the incident affect U.S. - China relations?

John King: What happens in the next few days will determine that. This is a tense time in the relationship because of the prospect of a major new U.S. arms sale to Taiwan and U.S. unhappiness with recent Chinese arrests and detentions of U.S. academics traveling in China and add to this the recent defection of a Chinese military officer. The Chinese media accounts of this incident are harshly critical of the United States. One reason President Bush and Secretary Powell have kept a low public profile is because they hope to resolve this at lower levels and then make the case it was dealt with quickly and appropriately. But there is a rising level of frustration on the U.S. side because there has been no access to the crew.

Question from chat room: What are you hearing about reports that this type of incident has been occurring more regularly than first noted?

John King: It is routine, our sources say, for Chinese military assets to take note of the U.S. flights in the area and to sometimes make their presence known. The collision of course makes this episode rather unique. But it does not come as a surprise to the Chinese that the United States conducts these operations.

CNN Moderator: The Chinese have vocalized their discontent with American jets flying over international waters near the Chinese coast. Was this a warning to the U.S. to cease such flights?

John King: The Chinese would prefer an end to such flights, but that is unlikely to happen. But remember, the tensions come at a time when U.S. officials say China is adding 50 missiles a year to the area that Taiwan considers a direct threat to its safety and as the United States considers selling some highly sophisticated weapons systems to Taiwan. So those tensions add to the drama of this episode.

Question from chat room: What is your take on the current version of the campaign reform bill making its way through congress? Will it pass? If so, will it be signed?

John King: It appears likely to pass the Senate today, despite some questions' about the constitutionality of some provisions. House Republican leaders have vowed to try to kill it -- or pass a very different measure. The president has indicated he does not want to be the one who kills campaign "reform" with a veto so the big question now is the House debate.

CNN Moderator: Next week, the Senate is expected to consider President Bush's budget blueprint. What is the president doing to gain enough votes to cut off debate and possible filibusters?

John King: Senate rules do not allow a filibuster on budget resolutions. The president has cleared time on his schedule this week to meet with and call senators he views as critical to the vote. There are a handful of members who are still viewed as on the fence, a couple moderate Republicans and two or three Democrats.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us?

John King: Today is also an interesting day as the president meets with the first Arab leader to come to the White House, President Mubarak of Egypt. He is a key player as the U.S. ponders a response to the continued Israeli-Palestinian tensions and the debate over changing sanctions on Iraq as well.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today

John King: My pleasure.

John King joined the chat room via telephone from Washington, D.C. and CNN.com provided a typist. The above is an edited transcript of the interview on Monday, April 02, 2001 at 10 a.m. EDT.

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