US President George W. Bush received a briefing on the third meeting between US officials and the crew of a US spy plane held in China, the White House said Saturday, describing Bush as concerned and persistent in seeking their release.
"The president is both concerned and persistent," Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters. "He persists in his belief that the time has come, our men and women should be brought home."
He said it was still fair to say round-the-clock diplomatic contacts were making progress towards the crew's release one week after their aircraft collided with a Chinese fighter jet.
But he said that Washington will not agree to Beijing's demands for an apology over the incident despite a letter from Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen that reportedly says the United States "should face up to the facts ... and apologize."
"The response is that the United States will continue its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the men and women," said Fleischer, who said Qian's letter was not a setback to the ongoing negotiations.
US national security advisor Condoleezza Rice briefed Bush at the Camp David presidential retreat on the hour-long meeting with the 24 crew members, said Fleischer.
US military attache Brigadier General Neal Sealock reported from China that Chinese officials were absent from the meeting, the third since the spy plane made an emergency landing in Hainan after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter.
(China Daily 04/08/2001)
