Missing pilot given title of hero-martyr
posthumously
The scandal continues around the American EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft, which made an emergency landing on the Chinese island of Hainan. Washington is demanding Beijing return the plane immediately. Beijing expects to receive substantial concessions from the United States for EP-3, primarily in the Taiwan area.

The harshness appeared in American statements late last week after Beijing released the 24 EP-3 crew members. On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Donald Ramsfeld blamed the incident on China and the Chinese pilot who died in the collision. And US Secretary of State Colin Powell denied reports that the United States had apologized for the incident, calling such information Chinese propaganda. According to Mr. Powell, the letter that the American authorities handed over to the Chinese leadership said that the United States regrets the death of the Chinese pilot and the forced landing of its plane at a Chinese airfield. In addition, the head of American diplomacy demanded the return of a reconnaissance aircraft held on Hainan Island.
In turn, the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Beijing has sufficient evidence of the guilt of the US plane. According to China, the EP-3 rammed a Chinese F-8 fighter flying nearby at a safe distance. "The United States should bear full responsibility for the incident, provide acceptable explanations to the Chinese people, stop frequent reconnaissance flights in the coastal area, and take practical measures to prevent such incidents," the Chinese diplomat said.
In fact, China is counting on much more. First of all, we are talking about American-Taiwanese cooperation. Beijing hopes the spy plane scandal will help it force Washington to reconsider its military contacts with Taipei. The PRC is especially concerned about the Americans' intention to sell the rebellious island Patriot air defense systems, several ultra-modern destroyers, as well as submarines (the corresponding contracts are being worked out). However, Beijing hopes that in exchange for the plane and the preservation of normal Sino-American relations, Washington will refuse these deals. However, the Chinese will consider their mission successful even if the United States postpones the implementation of Taiwanese contracts for several years. On Wednesday, April 18, diplomats from the two countries plan to meet in Beijing to find a compromise.
The Chinese authorities, meanwhile, announced the end of the search for the pilot who flew the F-8 fighter of the Chinese Air Force. Yesterday, pilot Wang Wei was elevated to the rank of martyr hero of the revolution. This title, awarded posthumously, has been awarded to several thousand Chinese. Before Wang Wei, the list of martyrs included a policeman who died at the hands of separatists from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. In addition to universal veneration, the award guarantees the widow of the deceased pilot a lifelong pension, and his son - education at the expense of the state.

ANTON B-CHERNYKH

Newspaper "Kommersant" No. 67/P dated April 16, 2001, p. 8