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| Bush Passes the Test
by John M. Curtis Copyright April 11, 2001
Shifting into the high diplomacy gear, the White House pulled back its tough talk pushing Chinese backs to the wall. No more incendiary rhetoric about “U.S. sovereignty,” “international airspace,” “arms sales to Taiwan,” “embassy bombing in Belgrade,” “doubtful 2008 Olympics,” “cowboy fighter pilots,” “economic sanctions,” and chauvinistic finger pointing. Despite Bush’s recent statement “that diplomacy takes a little longer than people would like,” broadcast and print media showed little patience during the standoff. Before the breakthrough, headlines read “stalemate,” “little progress,” “negotiations stalled,” attesting to the fact that progress was finally made once the media was kept in the dark. “I think he should be tougher,” said Phyllis Schafly, a conservative GOP ideologue, echoing the kind of pressure Bush faced from his right wing. “When you allow someone to save face,” remarked ex-GOP presidential candidate Gary Bauer, “you are humiliated. The United States is humiliated,” underscoring the dangerous political riptides threatening to sink the crew by injecting their two cents into American foreign policy. Keeping his eye on the ball, Bush knew that he needed to block hotheaded rhetoric from reaching the headlines. Performing a nifty back-flip, “Nobody should be ratcheting up the rhetoric,” cautioned White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, after antagonizing the Chinese for nearly 10 days repeating the mantra: “There’s nothing to apologize for.” Finally getting on the same page, White House lips were properly buttoned, allowing diplomats to quietly hammer out an acceptable deal. At some point, the administration realized they were dealing with Communist China where tough talk won’t get it done. After a virtual news blackout, diplomats worked feverishly behind the scenes to artfully craft the denatured wording resembling an apology, but satisfying the U.S. need to avoid public culpability, and simultaneously placating the Chinese demand for a formal apology. When all is said and done, the U.S. profusely offered its regrets saying it was (a) “very sorry” for the collision and loss of the Chinese pilot and (b) “very sorry” for violating China’s sovereignty by landing without permission. Also conceded was an April 18 meeting in which the U.S. agreed to discuss the fate of future reconnaissance flights over China. In exchange for this written acknowledgment, the Chinese agreed to turn loose the EP-3 crew. Holding the EP-3 crew in custody for 11 days was a propaganda bonanza for China. Not only did they force the U.S. to capitulate, they publicly flogged the U.S., characterizing American bravado as “arrogant” and “insensitive.” “The firm struggle by the Chinese government and people against U.S. hegemony has forced the U.S. to change for its initial rude and unreasonable attitude to saying ‘very sorry’ to the Chinese people,” said the Communist Party’s People’s Daily in a daily editorial. Once the Chinese felt satisfied with the public humiliation, they announced their “humanitarian” gesture. Slapping the U.S. in the face, “As the U.S. government has already said ‘very sorry’ to the Chinese people, the Chinese government has out of humanitarian consideration, decided to allow the crew members to leave China after completing the necessary procedures,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Juazuan. Once the Chinese exacted concessions and maxed-out the propaganda value of detaining U.S. crew, they decided to end the stalemate. Releasing the crew was hardly a “humanitarian” gesture. Revealing his human side, Secretary of State Colin Powell finally set the record straight, “To apologize would have suggested that we had done something wrong or accepting responsibility for having done something wrong and therefore it was not possible to apologize.” But placating the Chinese was the precise reason used for the “double very sorry” winning the release of the EP-3 crew. Sure, the U.S. didn’t acquiesce to the Chinese version that our pilot veered into the Chinese fighter jet, but exacting the “double very sorry” satisfied the Chinese politburo, hell-bent on payback since the inadvertent bombing of the Belgrade embassy. Satisfying hardliners’ need for revenge, the Chinese got their jollies watching Uncle Sam squirm. Ignoring hardliners at home, Bush executed his single-minded mission of securing the release of captive U.S. military personnel. Beyond who’s right or wrong or who saves face, Bush protected America’s most valuable asset: its sons and daughters. Whether “very sorry” constitutes an apology is anyone’s guess—what’s important is that it got it done. Backing off the harsh rhetoric, President Bush navigated the crisis to an expedient—but dignified—end. Biting his tongue, he showed the maturity and leadership necessary to guide the White House through a precarious situation. Getting his legs early, Bush rose to the occasion, demonstrated rock solid leadership and exceeded all expectations. Even House minority leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mis.) acknowledged the professional manner in which the president handled the crisis. Whatever doubts lingered from the election, Bush earned his respect the old fashioned way. Let there be no mistake, “W” proved himself under fire and now commands far greater clout. Containing the Peoples Republic of China, Bush showed the kind of leadership capable of meeting any domestic and foreign challenge. Armed with an impressive victory, he now has the momentum to lead the country and advance his agenda. Sure, he still has own ideology, but this extraordinary event enables him to reach across both sides of the aisle. Despite the high wire act, no publicity stunt could have yielded so much fruit. 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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pologizing or not, avoiding rancor, toning down the rhetoric and saying you're “very sorry” helped end the China standoff. Rising to the top of the class, President George W. Bush passed his first major test with flying colors, winning the release of the 24-member crew detained by the Chinese on Hainan Island for 11 days since a U.S. EP-3 surveillance plane was forced to make an emergency landing on April 1. Getting up to speed, the White House zipped its lips and refrained from indulging in the growing anti-Chinese chorus ringing through Capitol Hill and round the country. Setting a good example, Secretary of State Colin Powell sounded the right tone when he expressed “regret” about the Chinese fighter pilot Wang Wei’s death, despite knee-jerk reactions blaming China. Powell correctly recognized that blame can be assigned later, once the crew lifts safely off the tarmac at Lingshui airfield. Stealing the stage, the China syndrome promised to upend Bush’s nascent agenda during his first 100 days. Now out of the quicksand, the White House regains its focus to advance its domestic and foreign policy agenda with added vigor.|
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