Q: It is reported that the U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfield expressed the hope that the U.S. EP-3 plane could fly back to the U.S. from Hainan Island. Will the Chinese side agree to return the American plane in such a way?

A: The Chinese side has repeatedly and clearly stated in the China-US negotiations that it is impossible for the U.S.EP-3 plane to fly back to U.S. from Hainan Island. The American side should take a pragmatic and constructive attitude so that the issue on handling the U.S. plane could be properly settled.