In a statement this evening China has placed the blame for Sunday's collision between a US spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter on the actions of the American aircraft. It added that the US plane's actions posed a serious national security threat to China.
|
|
A photograph released by China of the damaged US Navy EP-3 electronic reconnaissance aircraft at Lingshui air base on China's Hainan Island.
|
The statement, released by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Dublin, stated that the US plane, which was on a surveillance mission southeast of China's Hainan Island, "suddenly veered at a wide angle towards the (two) Chinese planes."
"The US plane's nose and left wing rammed the tail of one of the Chinese planes, causing it to lose control and plunge into the sea."
The Embassy's statement said the US plane overran the scope of 'free over-flight' according to international law, and the alleged move against the Chinese planes violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The statement also said it "was illegal for the US military surveillance plane to enter China's territorial space and to land at a Chinese airport without China's approval."
"Facts show that after the collision the US plane had the time and technical ability to issue a request or notice (to enter Chinese airspace or land on Chinese territory), however the US plane failed to do so."
China called on the US to "face up to the facts, bear full responsiblity, apologise to China and not seek any excuse to shirk its responsibilty."
The Chinese also referred to international and domestic laws, which it claimed, gave them the "right to investigate the plane which caused all this trouble."
The statement also said that "China will deal properly with the US crew and plane in accordance with the law and the results of the investigation", into the incident.
Additional reporting AFP