China’s diplomacy handles dispute

It’s been interesting to watch the U.S.-China standoff for 11 days. Two superpowers were in a gridlock, not giving in to their stand. Finally, it has ended on Wednesday with China’s release of U.S. crew members. China made the right call in being generous by giving in first and thus initiated a graceful exit to this uncalled for dispute.

If you read the news, more likely you would think that U.S. spy plane did not crash into the Chinese fighter planes. What most people can’t understand is the fuss that China is raising on this issue, and the repeated demands of a proper apology from the U.S. Let’s turn this matter the other way around. If a Chinese spy plane was caught snooping near the coast of Florida, and given some unfortunate accident, the Chinese plane had to land on U.S. soil. I don’t think U.S. will send the Chinese and their plane back home in quick time without demanding some apology and explanation from them.

In Chinese society, saying sorry is being humble and polite to do so in situations where an unfortunate accident has happened. Usually both parties apologize first as a civil gesture before looking at the matter to see who should take responsibility. Bush clearly started with the wrong foot, declaring that U.S. would never accept responsibility in the beginning or apologize. That was just setting the bar too high, and underestimating China’s stubbornness. In the end, it took a very cleverly phrased letter and careful diplomacy to settle this matter.

Joon C. Yee

Junior, Schools of Engineering

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China’s diplomacy handles dispute

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