The diplomatic row about the fate of an American EP-3 and its crew forced to land in China is escalating today.

Satellite surveillance by the US shows that the Chinese have already stripped the top secret plane forced to land in south China after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter plane. In his first foreign crisis, America's president, George W Bush is taking a firm line, calling on the Chinese to return the crew and the plane.

"We have allowed the Chinese government time to do the right thing. Now it is time for our servicemen and women to return home. It is time for the Chinese government to return our plane," he said.