The Secretary of State tells Congress China is a nation in transition and Washington should help bring it into the international community U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says the Bush administration is trying to develop a measured response to China's role in the U.S. spy plane incident, in an effort to contain damage to bilateral ties. He warned lawmakers against underestimating what he called the totalitarian government in Beijing. But he also called China a nation in transition and said Washington should help bring it fully into the international community. He said the Bush administration has not taken a formal position on whether to oppose China's bid for the 2008 Olympic games. Mr. Powell's statements came hours after China blasted President Bush, saying his emerging China policies are driven by weakness.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province.