The crew of the U.S. plane that landed in China, sparking an international crisis, is being held on the tropical paradise island of Hainan, a military outpost and vacation destination known for its debauchery. The two sides speak out, officials speculate that the Chinese have boarded the U.S. plane and American diplomats gain access to the crew. But relations between China and the U.S. remain fragile. Midair encounters between U.S. and Chinese military aircraft have occurred more than a few times in recent years, including two in 2001 prior to the April 1 collision of a U.S. reconnaissance plane and a Chinese jet fighter. And although it is still too early to tell, tensions surrounding the U.S. spy plane that was forced to land in China yesterday may have an adverse impact on trade relations.
History tends to repeat itself.
The tale of the detention of American consular personnel from 1948 to 1949 in China bears remembering, says John Tkacik, in the face of the current standoff in Hainan. What our readers think . . .