People all over China have continued to strongly condemn the US for its hegemonist act to bump into a Chinese fighter and express their resolute support to the just stand of the Chinese government.

Officials and people throughout China pointed out that, instead of bearing responsibility, the US has put on arrogant air, used baseless arguments, called black white, and made groundless accusations against China.

They shared the view that the cause of the collision completely rests in the fault of the US, which should bear full responsibility and apologize to the Chinese people.

Li Hanlin, a research fellow with the Institute of Sociology of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that as a sovereign country, China will never permit its territory and airspace to be infringed upon.

He added: "As a Chinese citizen, I back the Chinese government in adhering to a principled stand in waging a resolute struggle against hegemonism and upholding justice."

Wu Nengyuan, director of the Taiwan Study Institute of the Fujian Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the act of the US spy plane to ram into a Chinese fighter violated the international law and seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty.

The incident has laid bare the US's true hegemonist nature, he said.

He said, "The US ought to proceed from the development of Sino-US relations, apologize to the Chinese people and give an explicit explanation to the Chinese government and the Chinese people."

Wu also said: " I hope the US government will face up the reality, bear its due responsibility and take the incident as a lesson to halt similar incidents from happening again."

Lin Zhaoshu, president of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, pointed out that the collision incident has aroused strong indignation among overseas Chinese.

"The All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, as well as Chinese residing overseas and foreigners of Chinese origin resolutely support the solemn stand of the Chinese government and strongly denounce the US for its hegemonist act," he said.

Mu Xuanpu, a renowned actor with the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of Culture, said: "Amid fierce competition in the world today, if we did not seize opportunities to develop China rapidly, a backward China would certainly become a target of invasion."

He continued, "Therefore, we must enhance our sense of urgency and responsibility, gain a clear understanding of the situation, grasp good opportunities, … speed up China's development, strengthen our national defense and uplift China's international position."

(People's daily 04/06/2001)