While American and Chinese negotiators met in Beijing, U.S. officials in Washington were weighing what weapons to sell Taiwan. The communist government considers the island a breakaway province, and has threatened to use force to capture it. The administration has tried to separate the weapons package from the dispute over U.S. spy flights. China bitterly resents the Taiwan arms sales. The U.S. plane is believed to be at the Hainan island air base where it made its emergency landing.
Satellite photos indicate China is examining the aircraft's top secret surveillance equipment.