U.S. says up to China to defuse spy plane spat

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States says it is up to China to avert an international incident over its spy plane and that it has again rejected Chinese demands for an apology.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President George W. Bush did not want to let the dispute over the Navy plane and its crew of 24, which made an emergency landing in China on Sunday after a collision with a Chinese fighter, rise to the level of an international incident.

"As the president indicated yesterday, this was an accident, and he does not want to let it rise to that level. The best way to prevent it from rising to that level is for the Chinese to release our servicemen and women so they can come home," Fleischer said.

He said U.S. Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher had rejected Chinese demands for an apology over the incident in a meeting on Wednesday with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.

-- (wh@t.will Bush do), April 04, 2001