M A I N   N E W S

USA suspends military ties with China

Washington, May 3
The USA has suspended all military relations with China as Beijing continues to hold a damaged US reconnaissance plane involved in an April 1 collision with a Chinese fighter jet, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. A Defence Department spokesman told reporters that the US Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, ordered the move this week and that his order was signed two days ago by a senior Pentagon official. No reason was immediately given for the terse announcement, but other defence officials said the move was taken in large measure because of China’s refusal so far to return the EP-3E Navy spy plane after Beijing also earlier delayed returning the 24 members of the crew. 

“The Secretary of Defence has directed the suspension of all Department of Defence programmes, contacts and activities with the People’s Republic of China until further notice,” said Navy Lieut-Commander Terry Sutherland, a Pentagon spokesman.

Commander Sutherland said the order was signed two days ago by Christopher Williams, special assistant to the secretary for policy matters. ANI