We ve got every diplomatic channel open. We re in discussions with the Chinese. It is now time for our troops to come home so that our relationship does not become damaged. He carefully measured his words, twice repeating the warning to Beijing while skating past reporters questions about his options. The president was not specific about potential harm to U.S.-Chinese relations, but his advisers noted for a second straight day that support for continuing normal trade relations with China was eroding in Congress.
Republicans are particularly hawkish toward China.
The Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine read by many of Bush s supporters, said in a weekend editorial titled A National Humiliation that the administration had shown weakness in its response to China. Among Democrats, Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey asked whether it is appropriate to have both an ambassador and hostages in the same country. Administration officials said they hoped the congressional recess that began Monday would help ease the political pressure on Bush by keeping most lawmakers out of the national spotlight. Hoping to lower emotions, the White House stressed reports that the crew was being fed and clothed well while housed in air-conditioned quarters on Hainan island in the South China Sea. The diplomats met the crew with no Chinese officials present, though they worked on the assumption that the conversations were being monitored by Beijing, U.S. officials said.