It's not that easy or clear cut. It's a matter of culture and perception. China claims 200 nm as their territory (many other countries do the same). USA recognizes only 12 nm.

From the Chinese viewpoint the US is harassing and spying on them (doesn't matter that almost every nation spies or electronically eavesdrops on every other). So there is an accident (or maybe they told their pilot to be a martir and exchange a cheaper old F8 fighter for a state-of-the-art, crown-jewel spy-plane. Seems like a fair exhange to me). And now they are pawing over everything the crew did not get enough time to destroy.

What to do next? I don't know. It's a delicate diplomatic situation. Remember that the Pentagon, CIA, NSA and whatever spooksville org there is, must be extremely worried about the exposure of this technology. Besides that, there are 24 hostages. And an administration that loves to get back to that old cozy Cold-War feeling. Not and easy situation.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>Can someone explain this to me?
>
>US reconnaisance aircraft in international airspace. Gets harrassed by Chinese fighters. Someone swerves and -- boom -- damaged US aircraft and missing Chinese plane, pilot feared dead.
>
>AFAIK, the American plane was not doing anything in violation of international law. Second, IMHO, if the Chinese had not harrassed the plane in the first place, no collision would have occurred.
>
>So the damaged aircraft requests an emergency landing at the Chinese airfield. Again, this is OK by treaties. When it lands, the crew is forced off the plane by the Chinese military. By treaties this is *Not* OK. Satellite data indicates that the Chinese board and remove stuff from the plane. Again, according to treaty, NOT OK.
>
>Now they hold American personnel hostage, contravening international law in almost all facets. And they demand an apology.
>
>I see it this way: The Chinese have Bush over a barrel, the same barrel that Iran had Carter over with the embassy hostages. China should have ended this within 24 hours by releasing the crew and plane. That would have put the US in a defensive opinion-based position; now the Chinese are in a defensive position by violating international agreements.
>
>So this may well go on and on...
>
>So what to do? IMHO.....
>
>1) Revoke partner trade status. Yeah, right, with Bush president.
>2) Sell as much military hardware to Taiwan as they can pay for, and then give them loans.
>3) After a few months, threaten. Threaten BIG.
>4) Financially support all opposition groups in China, including the Falun Guag (sp?).
>
>Basically, bring them to their knees.