China insists spy plane cannot fly back to the US

China said today the spy plane stranded in the south could not fly back to the United States.

The Chinese side has several times stated clearly in relevant Sino-US negotiations it is impossible for the US EP-3 plane to fly back to the US from Hainan Island Xinhua news agency quoting foreign ministry spokesman Mr Sun Yuxi

Xinhua news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Mr Sun Yuxi as saying: "The Chinese side has several times stated clearly in relevant Sino-US negotiations it is impossible for the US EP-3 plane to fly back to the US from Hainan Island."

Mr Sun was responding to comments by US Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfield in which he expressed hopes the plane could be repaired at the Chinese base and flown back to the US.

AFP