Photo shows damage to U.S. spy plane after collision with Chinese jet whose pilot is presumed dead.
Washington refused to apologize for its violation of China's sovereignty and arrogantly demanded immediate return of the plane and its crew. Map shows site of collision over an area China has declared an economic zone, requiring permission for foreign military overflights. The April 1 collision of the U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II spy plane with the Chinese aircraft has heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing. The Chinese government says it has repeatedly protested what are routine surveillance missions by U.S. warplanes. U.S. Navy officials say the spy planes make several flights a month over the South China Sea, often to monitor Chinese naval activities.