Standoff in China over White House Press plane- Not being allowed off

KNX 1070 ^ | 8/7/08 | KNX 1070

[dragnet2]

Radio report, broke this as breaking

Mark Knowler with KFI is stuck on the aircraft...Not being allowed to be left off the aircraft.

[Girlene]

From ABC News Press Meet Cold Reception in China

"ABC's Stephanie Smith reports: Forty journalists covering President Bush's trip to Asia received a most unwelcome reception as their chartered Northwest plane arrived at the Beiing airport at 2:11am local time early Friday morning.

As the plane taxied to its gate, just hours before the start of the 2008 Summer Olymipcs, the journalists scurried to collect their belongings, an announcement was made by the White House administrators that there would be a delay in exiting the plane.

Delays are a common occurrence on overseas White House press flights, but this one was particularly unusual due to the length of the delay: just shy of three hours. The chartered press plane was arriving in Beijing about five hours after the President Bush's own plane.

The journalists and 13 Northwest flightcrewmembers watched as about ten Chinese and U.S. Officials could be seen through the 747's windows in heavy conversation inside the terminal.

Thirty minutes into the standoff a Northwest flight crewmember announced that the bar would be open. Later, snacks were brought out and passed around. Not a good sign, the journalists knew.

Weary and frustrated, journalists watched and waited, as one hour passed, then two with no resolution in sight.

"We're getting screwed," comlpained CBS veteran White House reporter Mark Knoller, two hours into the detention as he munched on a wedge of grapefruit.

Perhaps the delay has something to do with the president's critical speech on China's human rights record given earlier today in Bangkok, Thailand, several journalists wondered?

"I think so," speculated Knoller, "but I have no way to prove it."

As the flight crew begain to roll in-house movies to the unhappy travelers, Senior Production Manager of the U.S. TV Pool, Steve Schrock put on his headset and began watching the classic thriller "Silence of the Lambs."

"I'm just trying to make the best of a bad situation," he said. "It's a good movie. It won an Oscar."

Two and a half hours into the crisis, customs officials began handing out passports and customs forms.

"We're working through logistical issues," wryly noted Gordon Johndroe, the White House National Security spokesperson, also on the plane.

Speculation abounded. The concensus was, the Chinese government went back on a previous agreement to allow the journalists in without a delay. For some reason, Chinese security decided to insist all luggage and camera equipment be screened, which caused the long delay.

As disoriented passengers made their way down the ramp to the empty terminal, a welcoming committee of smiling Chinese lined the corridors--some dressed in blue and white shirts with "Beijing 2008" emblazoned on the back.

A quick detour through passport control, where an electronic board asked for a push-evaluation of service -- one of four choices being "service took too long." Not a smart option. This journalist pushed "excellent service."

Three and a half hours after Northwest Airlines flight 9989 landed, the press exited the airport, heading to buses that would drive 45 minutes to the hotel. Dawn was breaking. The sky was hazy and the air was as thick as pea soup.

"Quite the welcome," said ABC's Correspondent David Kerley. Ditto that."

[luvie]

Well, this is going to be interesting! I guess we all knew that
the Chinese would play hardball in any way they could. I just
hope no one gets hurt or killed while these Olympics are
going on!

[luvie]

Maybe it was rumored that Helen Thomas was aboard! That
would be reason enough!

[Gondring]

Hey, China has moderated. Get with the program.

For further directives, tune your radio to...

How scary it is that such a comment is so close to the truth.

And how little the populace cares.

[miliantnutcase]

Very good point.

[frankiep]

Admire?

[Scotswife]

“I really dont like the Chicoms but I have to admire their zero tolerance approach with people they dont like.”

they sure don’t like a whole lot of people - including their own.

[toldyou]

“ahahahha - maybe America isn’t so bad after all :)”

ahahahha - maybe China isn’t so bad after all :)

[spokeshave]

"I wish he would turn those planes around, get back home and do the job he swore to uphold instead of watching games in the enemy’s playground"

First off...recall Congress to vote on DRILLING.

[DoughtyOne]

Jeff, we’re in general agreement on your comments. I’m going to have to defend Reagan and even Bush to a certain extent though. Look, Bush set the groundwork for serious trade changes that Clinton exploited.

In 1992, our trade deficit was about $50 billion dollars. By 2005 that deficit had reached $804.9 billion dollars per year.

Out trade with China mushroomed in the early 1990s to what it is today, something I think you and I would agree is downright shameful considering what China truly is.

[DoughtyOne]

Am I reading that right Jeff? Our 600 ship Navy under Reagan is now 222 ships? Is that what this indicates?

[DoughtyOne]

I hear ya.

[monkeyshine]

Well if they made a deal and broke it, screw ‘em. But I don’t know why they made such a deal... let a plane full of media smuggle grass and oxycontin into China?

[Candor7]

Ruh haha!!!!

The MSM get theirs! I actually like that!

[Candor7]

This "searchee firstee" is characteristic of China's requirement that the USA pay tribute to China,

They make the president "lose face" by roughing up the press corps, and then they let them dangle and sweat on the plane, and then let them off, the Chinese thinking that they have just showed the world that the US just takes the face loss, and does NOTHING!

Chesty Puller knew how to handle the Chinese in the old days. He would have told them today: " You have 20 minutes to comply with our previous agreement. Then if you do not comply,you will have a cruise missile impact your control tower 10 minutes after that, launched by one of our lurking submarines off shore."

Chinese 1 USA 0 in the eyes of the Chinese.

( Sarc. on)

Ha ! Ha! Chinee makee whan biggee faze losee ona Hamaricanees!!!

Giffee me 50 dollah, betcha Chinee win nex fazee loozer too!

Aftah 3 day, Hamaricannees ha' no facee lef'!!!!!

Ha HA HA ( Sarc. off)

What a bunch of cheap shots. I wish we played them as hard in LA at their sea port.

But th MSM will get in their "ricks" now , one way or the other.Stay tunied.

[Ulysse]

On the contrary i don’t hate Chinese but don’t like at all the way they behave with opponents,the way they try to ban criticism and FREE SPEECH.
You should let liberal-fascism and censorship TO LIBERAL LEFTISTS

[SueRae]

:-) Precisely.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

It is ominous, but in fairness, there are tons of pictures taken at awkward moments that don’t really reflect reality.

[jmc813]

Why should he give a Rat’s ass about the press.

Ummm, because they're Americans? They might be idiots, but they're OUR idiots. People on this thread giving China huzzas are making me sick.

[jmc813]

For example, my latest Happy Meal toy was made in Vietnam

Ummm, you buy Happy Meals? Wuzzup wit dat?