China claims right to examine US spy plane

China says it has the right to inspect the US Navy surveillance plane that made an emergency landing on Hainan island.

The statement comes despite the US claim that the plane is a protected American territory.

China's Foreign Ministry has mocked claims the crashed plane is protected by international law from outside observance without its permission.

"Based on Chinese law, and international practice, we have the right to conduct an investigation," Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhu Bangzao, said.

Mr Zhu stated: "If this plane is sovereign American territory, how did it land in China?"

However, Mr Zhu has refused to say whether Chinese military officials have boarded the US spy plane since it landed on Hainan island in the South China Sea on Sunday.

Mr Zhu also quoted Chinese President Jiang Zemin as saying the United States should stop reconnaissance flights near the Chinese coast. "China cannot understand why the US conducts such frequent surveillance missions," Mr Zhu quoted President Jiang as saying.

The unarmed EP-3 surveillance plane made an emergency landing at a Chinese naval air base near the town of Lingshui on Hainan island after an in-flight collision with a Chinese fighter jet. China says the fighter pilot parachuted out and is missing.

The US military says its plane was on a routine surveillance mission in international air space. After it was damaged in the collision, the pilot and 23 crew members safely landed.