China says US regret is 'unacceptable'

China says that American expressions of regret over the apparent death of one of its jet fighter pilots are unacceptable.

The announcement came in a letter from the Chinese government to Washington after US demands that the crew of their spy plane be released.

American diplomats are preparing to meet with the crew of the US Navy EP-3E surveillance plane for a third time on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

The letter, from Vice Premier Qian Qichen to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, read: "The American statements so far are still unacceptable to the Chinese side. The Chinese people are extremely dissatisfied with this."

The 24-strong crew has been held on the island since making an emergency landing following a collision with a Chinese jet fighter. The Chinese pilot is missing after reportedly parachuting out.

China accuses the US plane of ramming the fighter about 60 miles southeast of Hainan and of intruding into Chinese airspace by making its emergency landing on Hainan.

It says it is holding the American crew while investigating.

Both George W Bush and Powell have expressed regret over the loss of the Chinese pilot, though both refused Chinese demands for an apology.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman had described Powell's comment as "a step in the right direction" toward ending the standoff.

Qian's letter was the first official Chinese response since Bush expressed regret on Thursday for the loss of the Chinese pilot and said, "Our prayers go out to his family."