US-China stand-off over spy plane continues

In a tense stand-off with China, US President George W Bush demanded the prompt return of 24 crew members of a US Navy spy plane and the release of their crippled plane ‘‘without further damaging or tampering.’’

China said there would be no access at least until today.

Bush, reading a sober statement at the White House yesterday, said: ‘‘Failure of the Chinese government to react promptly to our request is inconsistent with standard diplomatic practice and with the expressed desire of both our countries for better relations.’’

The emergency landing of the turboprop EP-3 surveillance plane on the Chinese island of Hainan after its collision with a Chinese fighter jet early on Sunday brought a new chill to already frosty US-Chinese relations just as Bush was nearing a decision on an arms-sale package for Taiwan that Beijing has opposed.

The crew, in one of its last communications from the plane, told US authorities the aircraft was being boarded by the Chinese, a senior US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But Mary Ellen Countryman, a White House spokeswoman, said: ‘‘We have no confirmation that they boarded the plane.’’

Adm Dennis Blair, Commander-in-Chief of US Pacific Command, said late Monday that only one message was received from the crew after it landed.

‘‘The crew told us that they had in fact landed safely. That’s the last communication that we’ve had with them.’’

‘‘We’ve had encouraging words from Chinese officials in China and we look forward to having our officials get in touch with them,’’ he said. ‘‘I’d rather not put a time frame on it the sooner the better.’’

US officials had no information on the extent to which the plane, laden with high-tech surveillance equipment, might have been searched. The United States considers the aircraft sovereign US territory and not subject to search or seizure.

China blamed the collision on the American pilot, saying the US plane veered into one of its F-8 fighters.

Navy spy planes fly routinely off China’s southeastern coast to monitor military activity, especially any that might threaten Taiwan, and they are often shadowed in turn by Chinese fighter planes.

As tensions grew yesterday, the United States ordered three destroyers to remain near Hainan island instead of continuing their journey home from the Gulf. Later, US Defence Department officials said the three ships no longer were needed and continuing with their original plan to return home via Guam.

The United States sent three diplomats to the island in hopes of meeting with the crew.

‘‘Our priorities are the prompt and safe return of the crew and the return of the aircraft without further damaging or tampering,’’ Bush said on the White House lawn.