International Conflicts, 1816-2010. Militarized Interstate Dispute Narratives - Douglas M. Gibler

956 Chapter 7

MID#4064

Started in July 1995. See the narrative in the 710 China/713 Taiwan dyad dispute
list.

MID#4088

Started in February 1999. See the narrative in the 710 China/713 Taiwan dyad dispute
list.

MID#4281

Started in March, 2001. See the narrative in the 710 China/713 Taiwan dyad dispute
list.

MID#4280

Dispute Number: 4280
Date(s): March 23, 2001 to July 3, 2001
Participants: 710 China/2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: The US was conducting surveillance flights near China’s border. On
March 23, a Chinese naval ship chased a US Navy ship from waters claimed by the
Chinese. Then, on April 1, 2001, a Chinese jet fighter collided with a US EP-3E Aries
II spy plane about 50 miles off the coast of the Chinese island of Hainan, in what
the US government claimed were international waters. The American plane was able
to make an emergency landing on Hainan, while the Chinese plane crashed into the
water.
The Chinese claimed that the EP-3 entered Chinese airspace illegally to make the
emergency landing. Only a few weeks later, President Bush was to decide whether
the United States would sell Patriot missiles and AEGIS ship-borne radar systems to
Taiwan.

1. On April 3, President Bush demanded the “prompt and safe return” of the crew and
   the plane by the Chinese. He further offered to aid the Chinese in the search and rescue
   operation for its downed pilot.


2. In a speech the same day President Bush announced that “it [was] time” for the Chinese
   to return the American crew and the plane. He also noted that the Chinese had allowed
   American diplomats in China to visit the crew and had reported that they were all in
   good health.


3. Secretary of State Colin Powell offered regret for the loss of the Chinese pilot but
   said that both sides needed to move on to make sure that this situation was handled
   appropriately.


4. China called for the United States to apologize for the incident involving the
   spy plane in order to resolve the incident. Chinese officials had also boarded