Several bugging devices were discovered by Chinese investigators in a Boeing 767 intended to be used as a private jet by President Jiang Zemin. There were no allegations of who was responsible for planting the devices on the plane, whose construction in the US was overseen by Chinese officers.
The discovery was revealed just a month before US President George W Bush was due to arrive in Beijing on a summit. Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, expressed confidence that the issue would not harm bilateral relations.