If the situation is not resolved quickly, it could lead to a full-blown diplomatic crisis, says CNN's senior Asian correspondent, Mike Chinoy. No word There has been no communication with the crew since they landed on Sunday. The Chinese so far have given us no explanation for holding the crew. The crew is thought to be safe and unharmed, although the Chinese jet ditched into the South China Sea and its pilot remains missing, according to Beijing. China's side China, for it's part, says the plane entered its airspace and landed at one of its airports without its permission.
China says it reserves the right to pursue the matter.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzo said two Chinese military planes were following the U.S. plane to monitor it. The head and the left wing of the U.S. plane bumped into one of the Chinese planes, causing it to crash. A spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command said a three-person diplomatic team was expected to meet local Chinese government officials of the island very shortly to negotiate access. Naval attach Bradley Kaplan and defense attach Neal Sealock were due to meet a third diplomat, understood to be a U.S. consul general. The consular mission was sent to Hainan Island with the task of negotiating the return of the crew and its aircraft.