US President George W Bush today demanded that China grant immediate US access to the 24 crew members of a Navy spy plane held by China and that it return the plane without further tampering.
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US President George W Bush
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Raising the diplomatic stakes in what has quickly become his biggest foreign policy challenge, Mr Bush said China's refusal to let US officials talk to the crew was inconsistent with the desire of both countries for better relations.
"The first step should be immediate access by our embassy personnel to our crew members", Mr Bush said in a terse appearance before reporters outside the White House Oval Office.
"I am troubled by the lack of a timely Chinese response to our request for this access".
State Department spokesman Mr Richard Boucher told reporters later that Chinese diplomats have offered to grant access tomorrow, but he said this was not soon enough. White House spokesman Mr Scott McClellan said the offer was for access late tomorrow night Chinese time.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the last communication from the crew of the Navy plane yesterday was that armed Chinese soldiers were boarding the aircraft, raising concerns over the security of one of the most technologically sophisticated US surveillance planes.
Mr Bush said the Navy EP-3 maritime patrol plane was on a routine mission in international airspace, when it collided with one of two Chinese fighter jets shadowing it. The plane made an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island.
"Our priorities are the prompt and safe return of the crew and the return of the aircraft without further damaging or tampering", he said. The White House said it had received assurances the crew was safe and receiving assistance.
The incident threatens to further strain US-Chinese relations already tense over the possible US sale of sophisticated weaponry to Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province.
China's detention of a Chinese-born academic based in the United States has also deepened concern over China's human rights record.
Bush said US embassy personnel were on the ground and ready to visit the plane's crew as soon as permission is granted.
"Failure for the Chinese government to react promptly to our request is inconsistent with standard diplomatic practice and with the express desire of both our countries for better relations", Mr Bush said.
Mr Bush offered US search and rescue assistance to help the Chinese government locate its missing aircraft and pilot.