Japanese officials say President Bush's letter of apology over the sinking of a Japanese fishing vessel by a U.S. submarine includes a promise to consider raising the wreck.
Japan's prime minister reportedly told a U.S. Navy admiral Tuesday that if the U.S. fails to do so, Japan might raise the ship on its own.
Commissioned: Feb. 16, 1996
Los Angeles-class attack nuclear submarine
Homeported in Pearl Harbor in March 1997
Max crew: 130
Specs:
499 tons
190.8 feet long
30.5 feet wide
Max crew: 76
The letter was hand-delivered Tuesday by a high-ranking naval officer, sent as a special envoy.
A Foreign Ministry official told reporters that Bush pledged an investigation into why the USS Greeneville rammed into the high school training ship as the sub surfaced off Hawaii.
The official added that Bush emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan security relationship in maintaining world peace and stability.
Adm. William Fallon, the vice chief of naval operations, arrived at Yokota Air Base, a U.S. military facility on the outskirts of Tokyo Tuesday.
In a statement upon arrival, Fallon said his words cannot express "the profound sorrow and regret that the American people feel over this tragic event."
He said that he came not only to apologize, but to promote better understanding between the people of the two nations.
He said that the letter from Bush expressed "our nation's apologies and regret" and added that while in Japan he would update officials and relatives on U.S. efforts to recover the sunken Japanese vessel and determine why the accident occured.
Fallon is scheduled to meet with the family members on Wednesday morning, and meet government officials and hold a press conference before leaving Thursday.
Nine people from the Ehime Maru, including four students, remain missing and are presumed dead.
The Coast Guard announced Tuesday that the search has now covered an area the size of South Carolina. Two ships and two aircraft from the Navy and Coast Guard continued the search Tuesday.
Japanese government officials boarded a U.S. Navy ship Monday to take a first-hand look at the Navy's survey of the Ehime Maru.
They did not say whether the ship was salvageable, but they did say that the ship appeared to be in a good position for salvage because it is sitting upright in the water.
Previous Stories:
- February 26, 2001: Japanese Look At Sunken Ship
- February 26, 2001: Waddle Has 'Sincere Regret' About Collision
- February 25, 2001: Sub Investigation Could Widen
- February 22, 2001: Navy Court Of Inquiry Could Be Delayed
- February 20, 2001: Navy Likely To Raise Ehime Maru
- February 20, 2001: Sub Mishap Survivors Still Haunted
- February 19, 2001: Sucess Of Raising Ehime Maru 'Questionable'
- February 19, 2001: Robot Sub Hauled Out For Repairs
- February 19, 2001: Tennessee Town Supports Sub Crew
- February 16, 2001: Search Continues While NTSB Interviews Sub Crew
- February 15, 2001: Police Warn Of Sub Victim Fund Scam
- February 15, 2001: Japanese Outraged Over Sub Revelation
- February 15, 2001: Two Island Residents On Greeneville
- February 15, 2001: Help Identify The Civilians On The Sub
- February 14, 2001: Sub Captain Could Face Criminal Inquiry
- February 13, 2001: Ehime Maru Crew Describes Disaster
- February 12, 2001: Bush Offers Prayer For Sub Victims
- February 12, 2001: NTSB Begins Sub Collision Probe
- February 11, 2001: Ehime Maru Captain Speaks
- February 11, 2001: Sub Commander Reassigned As Search Continues
- February 10, 2001: Sub Collided During Emergency Maneuver
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