Talks deadlock over spy plane return

The US concedes the plane may have to be dismantled

The United States and China remain locked in negotiations over the return of a US spy plane held on Hainan Island.

Our strong preference remains to repair and fly out our airplane

US embassy spokesman

A US embassy spokesman in Beijing said the preferred solution would be to repair the plane and fly it out.

However, he said technical discussions about the feasibility of having to disassemble the aircraft are also under way.

The EP-3 surveillance plane has been detained since a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet on 1 April which resulted in the death of a Chinese pilot.

"Discussions continue. Our strong preference remains to repair and fly out our airplane. That is the fastest and most efficient way to recover the aircraft," the US spokesman said.

Mr Cheney said the plane was "in bad shape"

On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that it had accepted a US proposal for the plane to be dismantled and shipped back to the US in pieces.

China has repeatedly stressed there is no way it will allow the $80 million plane to fly out.

Beijing has said doing so would be a national humiliation.

Returning in crates

The collision damaged two of the EP-3's engines and one of its four propellers. It also caused the plane's nose cone to break off, and pieces of metal punctured parts of the fuselage.

A team of US technicians from Lockheed Martin Corp, maker of the aircraft, inspected it earlier this month and said it could be repaired sufficiently to be flown off Hainan.

But US Vice-President Dick Cheney said on Sunday the aircraft might have to return home in crates.

Timeline

1 April - Mid-air collision leading to grounding of spy plane. China blames US for the incident

2 April - President Bush demands access to US crew

4 April - China calls for public apology

11 April - China announces release of US crew

1 May - US engineers arrive to inspect plane

21 May - Vice-President Cheney says plane may have to be dismantled

The US plane's 24 crew members were detained by China for 11 days after the collision, which forced the EP-3 to make an emergency landing on Hainan Island.

A BBC correspondent in Beijing says the accident caused a dramatic souring of Sino-US ties, which have yet to recover.

China has also reacted angrily to US plans for a missile defence shield.

And recent visits to the US by Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian have prompted Beijing to accuse Washington of interfering in its affairs.