The Chinese language newspaper Wen Wei Po said in a commentary entitled "the United States should be fully responsible for the plane collision" that the US military spy plane flew close to China's Hainan province on an espionage mission, which is not a justified move.

It is very natural for the Chinese to make reaction to the US plane's hostile military action which might harm China's national security. The reaction is in line with international norms and China's sovereignty, the commentary said.

The United States should realize China's determination and ability to defend its national security and sovereignty, the commentary said. Meanwhile, the United States should further understand the importance of enhancing understanding, removing mistrust and maintaining stable relations between the two nations, it said.

Ta Kung Po, another HK-based Chinese language newspaper, said in an editorial entitled "hegemonism is source of world instabilities" that the plane collision, which appears to be accidental, is an evil consequence of the United States' pursuing hegemonism. Facts have proved once again that hegemonism is the main cause of world instabilities, it said.

Hong Kong Commercial Daily said in a commentary that the United States, which caused the plane collision, should be held fully responsible for the accident. However, ironically, the United States is attempting to shift the responsibilities to the Chinese side and made many claims, the newspaper said. The newspaper urged the United States to shoulder the responsibilities for causing the collision and compensate for China's losses. The United States should also stop the dangerous game of spying along China's sea-space, it said.

HK-based Ming Pao noted in its editorial that the United States in the past year has continuously spied close to China's airspace, which is a undoubtedly a provocation to China. The Chinese planes' midair tracing of foreign spy planes is an act to defend the country's territories, the newspaper said.

(Xinhua 04/05/2001)