by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 2, 2001
All Rights Reserved.

laying hardball and imposing a virtual news quarantine, China flexed its muscle and turned back the clock on U.S.-Sino relations. Colliding over the South China Sea with a Chinese F-8 fighter, a state-of-the-art U.S. EP-3 Aries II reconnaissance plane was forced to land on Hainan island, a province off China’s southern coast. After more than 72 hours of intense diplomacy, the Chinese refused to grant access to the disabled spy plane or its crew. “The first step should be immediate access by our embassy personnel and to our crew members,” Bush told reporters outside the Oval Office, getting the message that China was calling the shots. Unhappy with the bombing of their embassy during the Kosovo campaign, prospective military sales to Taiwan and now snooping in their backyard, China’s making a statement. Letting the Bush administration sweat, China’s delayed response sent a shot over the bow. While Clinton’s China Trade Bill rubber-stamped corporate greed, it didn’t come to grips with China’s changing superpower status since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Menacing its neighbors, few countries in Asia question who’s the bully on the block.

       Acknowledging the security breach, “Our priorities are the prompt and safe return of the crew and return of the aircraft without further damage or tampering,” said Bush, though he received assurances that the Chinese would grant access to U.S. diplomatic personnel by Tuesday, April 3. By that time the damage to U.S. security will be irreversible. Forget Wen Ho Lee, getting their hands on the ultra sophisticated anti-submarine patrol aircraft, China now has a virtual treasure trove of U.S. technology secrets. Once captured, all the empty rhetoric about “sovereignty” won’t stop the Chinese from dismantling U.S. property—milking the security windfall for everything it can get. All’s fair in the spy game. Just ask double agent Robert Phillip Hanssen who gave away the store to his KGB buddies for 15 years. Suggesting that the crew could simply erase and disable all 'sensitive' surveillance hardware sounds like wishful thinking. Speaking on “Meet the Press,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said that the airplane “should not be inspected or entered by Chinese authorities because of the nature of the equipment onboard.” Who’s he kidding? Given the chance, that’s precisely what the Chinese—or any other adversary—would do.

       Clipping wings with the F-8 jet early Sunday Morning, the sophisticated spy plane sent out a mayday signal indicating that they had lost power in one of the 4 turbo-props, forcing an emergency landing, April 1, on Hainan’s Lingshui airfield. With only one prop disabled, it’s unclear why the maritime patrol plane could not have made it safely to Taiwan or the Philippines. Landing on unfriendly turf, the pilot feared that either the EP-3 was too disabled to fly or was in imminent danger of being shot down. There’s simply no other reason why the pilot would risk his crew and equipment. He certainly had no reason to believe that China was a trusted ally. With the Chinese F-8 plummeting into the South China Sea, the EP-3 was lucky that its superior size enabled it to survive the collision. Flying a routine sortie, the surveillance plane found itself intercepted by Chinese F-8s, flying dangerously close to its wings. U.S. officials confirmed that it had previously protested unsafe moves by Chinese pilots tracking reconnaissance flights. In the wake of the nuclear submarine Greenville’s collision with a Japanese fishing trawler off Diamond Head, the Navy didn’t need another costly mishap.

       According to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, the U.S. spy plane veered erratically and bumped the wing of the Chinese F-8, sending it spiraling into the deep blue sea. With the Chinese F-8s seen as more nimble than the lumbering EP-3, U.S. officials find difficulty buying the Chinese story. Pointing the finger, “It’s pretty obvious who bumped into whom . . . ,” said Adm. Dennis Blair, Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, countering the Xinhua report that the EP-3 recklessly strayed into the flight path of the Chinese aircraft. Without contact for the past 72-hours, growing concerns were raised about the Chinese violating international law regarding the sovereignty of U.S. assets. “Any military aircraft is essentially sovereign territory of its owner. So it cannot either be boarded, seized or inspected without the expressed permission of the U.S. government,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sean Kelly, spokesman for the U.S. Pacific command. While the safety of the crew is no doubt the highest priority, Chinese plundering of top-secret surveillance equipment also worries Pentagon officials. “It’s obviously serious whenever a military collision like this takes place,” remarked former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, highlighting the benefits of good diplomatic relations.

       Talking tough, “Failure for the Chinese government to react promptly to our request is inconsistent with standard diplomatic practice and with the express desire of both our countries for better relations,” said Bush, showing some frustration over China’s recalcitrance to permit communication with the crew. Gaining the upper hand, China’s not buckling to veiled threats while they systematically dissect U.S. security apparatus. Only after the python’s through with its prey, will the U.S. gain access to its crew and equipment. Pandering to the world stage, it’s now China’s moment to assert control over the world’s mightiest superpower. But let there be no mistake, China has served notice that it intends to compete with the U.S. for worldwide dominance. Following Khrushchev’s immortal words—“We will bury you”—China has the West behind the 8-ball with its cheap labor and irresistible business climate. Few corporations—and governments for that matter—doing business in China can afford to rock the boat. Despite the saber rattling, the U.S. has little choice now, other than taking its lumps.

       Like quiet predators on the world stage, the Chinese communists have emerged as a formidable force to be reckoned with. Like OPEC, the U.S. economy is now so helplessly dependent on Chinese business, that it’s inconceivable to implement meaningful sanctions. While there’s plenty of tough talk, few multinational corporations are willing to rock the boat. No matter how temporary, holding our crew and equipment hostage, the Chinese proved that they’re capable of calling the shots. Despite Bush’s pressing demand, China methodically orchestrated the crisis to their advantage. Unwilling to bend to U.S. demands, the Chinese proved they could stare down the enemy without fear of reprisals. When the plane’s finally returned and fingers start pointing, China’s learned an important lesson: Superior strength and unflappable resolve scores a lot of points. Even demanding presidents can’t call the shots when they’re not holding the cards. With China controlling the marbles, it’s just a matter of time before they flex their muscle somewhere else. One thing’s for certain, the U.S. crossed into a dangerous new age.

About the Author

John M. Curtis is editor of OnlineColumnist.com and columnist for the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He’s director of a Los Angeles think tank specializing in political consulting and strategic public relations. He’s the author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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