The following is the full text of President George W. Bush's statement on Tuesday calling on China to return the 24 crew members of a U.S. spy plane or risk damaged relations.
I want to report to the American people, and especially to the families involved, that I've just talked with Brigadier General (Neal) Sealock, who earlier today met with our 24 men and women in China. The general tells me they are in good health, they suffered no injuries and they have not been mistreated. I know this is a relief to their loved ones, and to all Americans.
Our crew members expressed their faith in America, and we have faith in them. They send their love to their families. They said they are looking forward to coming home, and we are looking forward to bringing them home.
This is an unusual situation in which an American military aircraft had to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil. Our approach has been to keep this accident from becoming an international incident. We have allowed the Chinese government time to do the right thing. But now it is time for our servicemen and -women to return home, and it is time for the Chinese government to return our plane.
This accident has the potential of undermining our hopes for a fruitful and productive relationship between our two countries. To keep that from happening, our servicemen and -women need to come home.
Thank you very much.
(Agencies 04/04/2001)
