Scott McClellan

“ Q Scott, what's the reading of international law, as regards the plane? Do the Chinese have any right to go on board the plane? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think State Department addressed that at the briefing, so I'd refer you to State Department. Q So they don't have any right to go on board, we have the right to demand -- MR. McCLELLAN: The State Department addressed that. Q Do the Chinese consider this is a spying mission from the United States to their land, and that's why they act this way? ”

“ How about if China is threat to the United States, as far as military threat is concerned? MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry? Q I think what he means is, the U.S. has said that deployment of national missile defense should not be interpreted by China as a threat, right? Q Yes. MR. McCLELLAN: Right. That was addressed after the meeting with the Vice Premier. I think that's already previously been addressed. Q Can I ask about Condoleezza Rice? Before she became National Security Advisor, she was on the Board of Directors of Chevron Corporation. And Chevron, before she left, named an oil tanker after her. ”

“ Do we have to have people on the plane to conduct these dangerous missions? MR. McCLELLAN: I think that's a question for the Pentagon. But this is a routine mission that we have been conducting. Q And, also, the President said our embassy officials are on the ground. Does that mean they're actually on the island? MS. COUNTRYMAN: They're on Hainan Island. MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, they are there. Q Scott, let me put my question in a different way. The President said last week that U.S. is not threat to China. ”

“ This is a routine mission over international airspace, as we indicated earlier. Q Scott, in any of the conversations that the administration has had with Chinese officials, have they indicated that the Chinese response to this -- I don't want to call it a foreign policy crisis, but foreign policy challenge -- may impact the U.S. decision to sell four Arleigh Burke class destroyers to Taiwan? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, on the question of arms sales to Taiwan, no decision has been made at this point. We do -- Q I understand that. ”

“ The Pentagon, if you want to refer that question to them. Q Now, wait a minute. If you're going to stand at the podium and tell the American people these are routine missions, I believe we expect you to know something about how routine they are. ”