Committee of 100 Issues Statement On Incident Over Hainan Island April 9, 2001

(New York, NY)--The Committee of 100, an organization of leading Chinese Americans, today released the following statement regarding the incident involving U.S. and Chinese aircraft over Hainan Island:

As Americans of Chinese descent, we are particularly saddened by the unfortunate incident over Hainan Island involving the Chinese fighter and the U.S. reconnaissance plane which has resulted in the presumed death of the Chinese pilot as well as the detention of 24 American military personnel.

We join President Bush and our fellow Americans in urging the swift return of our 24 military personnel. We too offer our deep condolences to the family of Wang Wei, the Chinese pilot. We are fully supportive of the measured approach of our President in handling this issue and urge the Chinese leadership to continue their efforts to work with the U.S. in determining the facts so that the issue does not escalate into a controversy harming overall U.S.-China relations.

Leaders in both the U.S. and China must deal with what can become emotional reactions from their constituents. Accordingly, we urge both sides to allow time for the facts to emerge with calm efforts for resolution. Clearly, the human issues of the presumed death of the Chinese pilot and the return of the 24 Americans are the most urgent to address.

Above all, what is most important is that both sides keep the resolution of this issue in the context of the mutual desire for positive U.S. - China relations for the benefit of the people of the U.S. as well as the people of China.

The Committee of 100 has as its mission two primary concerns: to foster a better relationship between the US and greater China and to support the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of life in the United States.

For more information, please contact
An Ping
Committee of 100 office
tel: 212-371 6565 fax: 212-371 9009
email: ping_an@committee100.org