Spy plane crew faces criminal charges in China

Members of the US spy plane crew stranded on Hainan island are facing criminal charges.

They are being questioned over their in-flight collision with a Chinese fighter jet and accused of being law-breakers.

The Chinese government is claiming the US crew violated international law.

A government spokesman has refused to say whether the 24 crew members of the EP-3E surveillance plane are considered spies or what penalties they might face.

They are being held on Hainan island in the South China Sea, where they made an emergency landing after the collision on Sunday.

The spokesman said: "They have caused this air collision incident. It is fully natural for competent authorities in China to question them about this incident."

He suggested that US diplomats won't be allowed to see the crew again until the American government apologises for the incident, though he won't say whether an apology is a precondition for talks.

US diplomats were allowed to meet for the first time with the crew, more than two days after the collision. The diplomats say China has not responded to requests to allow further meetings.

"If the US side takes a cooperative approach, we will consider another visit," the spokesman said. Asked what China considers a "cooperative approach," he said, "the US side should admit its mistakes, apologise and explain to the Chinese people. This is the first step."