Joe Wilson: “24 Americans are currently being detained in China under circumstances that are unacceptable. Today, the Chinese…”

“24 Americans are currently being detained in China under circumstances that are unacceptable. Today, the Chinese ambassador has said that the crew members are in China because the investigation is going on, and China's foreign minister has asked for an apology. The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reports that the American ambassador was admonished and told that the U.S. has displayed an arrogant air, used lame arguments, confused right and wrong, and made groundless acquisitions against China. America has nothing to apologize for. Our aircraft was operating in international air space when Chinese interceptors came close to investigate it. They came too close and caused a mid-air collision. Mr. Speaker, we all know that sometimes in international politics, statements are made for internal consumption rather than for the ears of other powers. But the Chinese government needs to understand that here in Congress we are listening and watching. Their action or failure to act has consequences. This is an unusual situation in which an American military aircraft had to make an emergency landing on Chinese soil. I am supportive of the President's desire to keep this accident from becoming an international incident, but every hour that goes by without the return of our crew makes the likelihood of continued good relations between our two nations less achievable. I have supported free trade with China and engagement with China's people.…”