I guess this means it should all be resolved within the next 7 years, eh?

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/094/world/Chinese_Olympic_bidders_hope_t:.shtml

Chinese Olympic bidders hope to avoid fallout from spy plane crisis should not effect bid. No pickup.

By John Leicester, Associated Press, 4/4/2001 11:47

BEIJING (AP) A senior Beijing city official said Wednesday he hoped a diplomatic crisis over a U.S. Navy spy plane wouldn't hurt the capital's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

''I still hope this situation can be quickly resolved and not have a negative impact on China-U.S. relations as a whole, including the Olympic bid,'' said Wang Wei, secretary-general of the Beijing Olympic bid committee. ''The better the international environment, the better it is for the Olympic bid.''

The EP-3E surveillance plane made an emergency landing Sunday on the southern Chinese island of Hainan after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet. China has demanded an apology and is holding the plane and its 24-member crew. The fighter pilot is missing.

Washington has refused an apology and said that failure to promptly return the plane and its crew could harm relations.

Tensions over the incident threatened to detract from Beijing's efforts to put forward its best face for the bid and could harden sentiments against China in the United States. The decision on the 2008 Games rests with International Olympic Committee, which votes July 13.

IOC executive board member Jacques Rogge said the plane confrontation should not effect Beijing's bid. ''This is a problem of international politics. The IOC members will judge on the sports event. I don't think what is a military incident can play a role,'' he said.

''Remember, we are voting for games to be held in July 2008. It's not about an incident between the United States or China. There are other interests at stake. Let's put it in the right proportion. It's about a sports event in seven years' time.''

Beijing's 1993 bid for the 2000 Summer Games was hurt by criticism of China's human rights record. Those games went instead to Sydney, Australia.

U.S. lawmakers last month passed a resolution saying Beijing should not get the 2008 Games unless China releases all political prisoners and improves human rights. China was indignant, saying the nonbinding measure inappropriately mixed politics with sports.

On Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the plane incident should not have an effect. ''We don't understand how this has something to do with our bid for the Olympic Games,'' said spokesman Zhu Bangzao.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001