International standards stipulate a 12-mile buffer of a nation's coast, not 70. So let's get this straight-the plane was over international waters. If that fighter pilot was inept enough to hit that slow, big spy plane, then China should reconsider the caliber of the pilots they field. More than likely, the idiot fighter pilot was tring to scare the Americans on the spy plane and misjudged the flight pattern of himself, the spy plane, or both. No one who is familiar with this incident can fault President Bush for not apologizing for China's inept pilots.
China is at fault.
It is they who should be apologzing for a pilot in a much faster and maneuverable plane who was unable to control his aircraft. In fact, the U.S. should require that the damage to the spy plane be paid for by the Chinese, in addition to a hefty settlement paid to each crew member held illegally against their will. I'll admit I'm not a political expert just yet, but I feel it is important for someone to set the story straight about what is going on between China and United States. It is ridiculous to believe that apologizing for the collision between a Chinese fighter plane and a U.S. surveillance aircraft will dissolve ill tensions between the two super powers. Well, it's not because we'd rather take our balll and go home, Mr Klatt.