The plane and its crew of 24 are being held by the Chinese government, heightening tensions between the two countries. The U.S. and Chinese governments seem no closer to resolving the standoff. State Department officials suggest a formal U.S. apology which the United States has insisted is unwarranted and would only partially meet Chinese demands for settling the dispute. It sounds like there are still appeasers in the State Department who are willing to continue the President Clinton philosophy of squishy, apologetic foreign policy that resulted in so much disrespect for America during the past eight years. China doesn't respect appeasement and the mousy groveling that defined the Clinton presidency, particularly its foreign policy, or non-policy.
China understands toughness and respects force.
It's my bet those stoic Chinese leaders are waiting for President George Bush to take the bull by the horns and weight in on the crisis. This is Bush's first international challenge and he can't afford to blow it. If he does, it's likely he will be portrayed forever as another wimpy American president too fearful to rattle a few sabers. Yes, he must proceed cautiously but in the end, he will have to confront the Chinese dragon if negotiations fail. Incidents such as this can start wars.