Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists . Asia More news from our Asia edition U.S. officials in Washington told CNN on Monday a fourth letter was being drafted and would soon be sent to Chinese officials. The movement of the letters, one official said, showed continued progress toward a resolution. Still, several officials of the Bush administration said they could not be sure if the nine-day standoff would end soon or if the precise language sought by the Chinese could be formulated. The Chinese jet crashed into the sea and its pilot has not been found, while the U.S. plane limped to a nearby military airfield on Hainan Island, where its crew have since been held with only limited access to U.S. diplomats.
China blames the U.S. for the collision, and has demanded an apology.
Condolence' letter delivered The U.S. officials said President Bush's letter of regret and condolence to the wife of the Chinese fighter pilot missing and presumed dead has been delivered. U.S. officials said they hoped the gesture would undercut some of the rhetoric from Chinese officials about the stance of the U.S government. The pronouncements of the United States are unacceptable to the Chinese people. Some U.S. officials said in many respects the Bush administration has gone as far as it intends to go in its expressions of regret and that the stalemate must end soon or lasting damage to the U.S.-China relationship could be inevitable. With the standoff over the detained Navy spy plane and crew in its second week, China is holding firm to its call for a U.S. apology.