>AFAIK, the American plane was not doing anything in violation of international law.

Neither was the Chinese plane. You guys were snooping on them, they on you.

>Second, IMHO, if the Chinese had not harrassed the plane in the first place, no collision would have occurred.

That's speculation. Nobody knows what happened.

>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.

Can you point to any specific international law or treaty that has been broken?

>Now they hold American personnel hostage, contravening international law in almost all facets. And they demand an apology.

They should release the Americans, it is pointless and inhumane to keep them imprisoned.