Comments on: China’s Obama Welcome May Be Muted

By: Bryce Sadler

Bryce Sadler — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:39:46 +0000

Its kinda funny the Chinese also sent the US a bill of USD34,000 for the 22 crew being put up in a Chinese jail for 11 days – a daily rate of USD140 per member, per day. You can stay at the Hilton for less

By: Herge Santander

Herge Santander — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:57:07 +0000

Protocol dictated it was sent by the US Ambassador to the Chinese Foreign Minister at the time. But it was essentially a top level apology by the American government to the Chinese people. It is generally considered the Chinese pilot had been behaving recklessly, however the Chinese still used the incident to pressurise the new Bush administration. Such reconnaisance flights close to Chinese territory were subseqently discontinued despite being in internationally recognised airspace after China had commented that it didn’t send flights close to the US west coast and that likely American reaction if they did would be far stronger. It was seen as a Chinese political victory against Bush that he had had to instruct the US Ambassador and Secretary of State to issue an apology. One hopes Obama will not find himself in such an uncomfortable diplomatic position in isolating China then being forced to an almost immediate and embarassing climbdown and apology.

Its a good point. Bush was very naieve about dealing with China and overly aggressive when he became President, and he ended up damaging US/China relations almost from day one leading to a more resistant China on bilateral trade issues as a result which still continues today.

By: Andy Scott

Andy Scott — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:23:07 +0000

Dear John,

Please see this link: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Letter_of_the_two_sorries

Regards,

By: john

john — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:59:49 +0000

I do not recall George Bush apologizing to the Chinese people over the spy plane
incident. In fact, the evidence suggested that the chinese pilot had been “hot-dogging”
dangerously close to American aircraft in international airspace for several weeks
prior to his untimely demise. But, this author can provide documentation to the
contrary if it exists.