On April 1, a U.S. surveillance plane made an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet. The plane's 24-member crew was released after 11 days in custody and the plane is still in Chinese hands. Bush was insistent in the ABC interview that surveillance flights over China would resume soon, but he did not give a date. It's important for us to be gathering information and to do so, though, over international airspace. We're not violating anybody's airspace.
China is opposed to such flights, however.
Bush also defended his much-criticized environment policy and said it was based on sound science. Bush dispelled doubts about Vice President Dick Cheney's health. Cheney, who has four heart attacks since 1988, has been hospitalized twice since he was named Bush's running mate for the 2000 presidential election. He seems as healthy as can be. Copyright 2001 by United Press International.