China - Access to Gao Zhan

ANSWER: Our Consular Agreements with China only guarantee our right to consular access to U.S. Nationals or, in the case of dual us-Chinese Nationals, a dual national who entered China on a US passport. Nonetheless, we have a strong interest in Ms. Gao's welfare and have repeatedly pressed for her immediate release.

QUESTION: With whom in the Chinese Government have you spoken about the case?

ANSWER: We raised the issue during the President's and Secretary Powell's meetings with Vice Premier Qian last week and on repeated occasions before and after those meetings with the Chinese Embassy in Washington and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.