Student defends China's actions

In response to Jessica Medeiros’s Exponent letter on April 18, I feel obliged to say something.

1. If you have read the first extremely low-key statement from the Chinese government after the incident and how China has been forced to take a stronger stance after American government made those presumptuous demands, you will understand what blunders President Bush has made.

2. American media have successfully misled American people to believe that the incident happened in international airspace. However, it happened in China’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Under international law, foreign states enjoy the right of overflight in this zone, but they must have "due regard" for the rights and duties of the coastal state. The EP-3E, on an espionage mission, definitely did not have the "due regard." USA’s legal arguments are groundless even if both countries agree to use the law USA cited to defend itself.

3. It’s even more ironic that USA is not a contracting party of the law it cited to defend itself.

4. In addition, EP-3E violated Chinese airspace. China has its full jurisdiction to try the crew. The crew were treated too well and released without trial only because China wanted to show the goodwill to cooperate.

5. The crew came back and told a story that did not match the damage trace on EP-3E. Bush immediately reverted to previous presumptuous attitude. China’s good will was misread as weak and abused.

6. Jiang said "the troublemaker should apologize." The translation distorted his meaning.

7. Although I believe that cooperation between the United States and China is to the best interest of the whole world, threats such as trade sanction cannot achieve cooperation. China is not intimidated by any threat. Promoting mutual understanding and mutual respect is more conducive.

Xiaoping Yang
Graduate Student

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