U.S. Congress hails Bush's China strategy

From CNN Correspondent Kate Snow

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Members of the U.S. Congress voiced their approval Wednesday of the Bush administration's handling of the Chinese standoff and hailed the anticipated return of 24 U.S. military personnel from China.

TRANSCRIPT Text of U.S. letter expressing 'sincere regret' Text of Bush's remarks    RESOURCES U.S.-China agreement: What's next? Overnight calls brought word of release deal    IN-DEPTH U.S.-China Collision: A diplomatic solution  • About freighter returning EP-3  • Look: Inside the EP-3  • Facts about the EP-3  • Map: Locating the incident  • Big picture: High stakes  • Classroom discussion guide  • Historical US-China timeline  • Whidbey arrival images  • Crew speaks out  • Crew's return images    ALSO Analysis: Behind the scenes in Beijing's corridors of power Jiang keen to ensure U.S. relations not damaged Chinese state media: Beijing continues to press U.S. Beijing calls for unity and stability over U.S. crew release Crew's families thrilled with news of release Debriefing awaits U.S. crew before reunions with families More related stories

The office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, issued a statement saying, "The president exhibited mature and responsible leadership throughout this tense situation."

The 24 detainees have been forced to remain on China's Hainan Island since their Navy EP-3 spy plane collided with an F-8 Chinese fighter jet on April 1, sending the jet crashing into the sea and forcing the Navy aircraft to perform an emergency landing on the island.

Chinese Foreign Ministry officials announced Wednesday night they would release the detainees for "humanitarian reasons" after receiving a letter from the U.S. State Department that said the U.S. was "very sorry" about the apparent death of the missing pilot and for entering Chinese airspace during the emergency landing.

Other members of Congress offered praise for the Bush administration, while faulting China for prolonging the standoff.

"I am extremely pleased that the Chinese are releasing our servicemen," said Sen. Bob Graham, D-Florida, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. "It was unfortunate that they didn't do this several days earlier."

Graham told CNN he was "admiring of the diplomatic skills that President Bush has displayed throughout this incident. He was able to keep the matter contained, keep it within appropriate diplomatic channels and avoid this incident from becoming a major source of rupture of the US-China relationship."

Rep. Porter Goss, R-Florida, also commended the president for having "a strong foreign policy team, which he used accurately" and for being "patient, firm and not arrogant" in his approach to China. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Bush did a better job than former President Clinton in making sure the "foreign policy team was all on the same page."

Goss told CNN the United States proved, "we are a superpower, but we're not an aggressive superpower."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Bush had no choice but to deal "gingerly" with the Chinese government and that China was responsible for the length of the impasse.

Pelosi said the final letter from U.S. Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher to the Chinese foreign minister "could have been sent the first day."

"The timing was clearly all China's doing," Pelosi continued, indicating that the Chinese leadership needed to satisfy internal political demands and "save face" for domestic reasons.

"It was appropriate for the Bush administration to give them a ladder to get off their high horse," Pelosi told CNN.

Members of the two congressional intelligence committees said they expected the United States to continue surveillance flights off the coast of China. But one member indicated that the nature of the flights could be changed.

"Our intelligence -- the reason we have it in many forms around the world is to protect Americans at home and abroad," said Goss. "We do not fly legal lawful air missions in international space for the fun of it. We do it for our national security. Yes, there is, I suppose, some risk to all of this, but the fact of the matter is we need to have this surveillance. If there is a way we can do it differently that's less offensive to some people, then that might be a matter worth discussing."

Goss would not elaborate on what changes in U.S. procedure might be under consideration, but said surveillance flights may be able to be made in a "more accommodating way" to reduce China's concerns.

"China has secrets they're trying to keep from the eyes of the world," Goss added.

Many on Capitol Hill remain concerned about the impact on the future of U.S.-Chinese relations.

Pelosi said the incident "will leave a terrible scar on the relationship."

Anti-China rhetoric on Capitol Hill has been heightened by the standoff. Some members have threatened to re-visit the issue of permanent normal trade relations with China.

Congress could also play a role in approving sales of military technology to Taiwan, and there is legislation pending to voice concerns about Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Last week, the Chinese ambassador to the United States sent a letter to members of Congress urging them not to interfere in China's Olympic bid.

"That letter isn't worth the paper it's written on," Pelosi said. "In light of this event, to think that the U.S. and that members of Congress are not going to make a statement -- they're dreaming."

But Graham said he agreed with the substance of the letter. "The U.S. Congress ought to step back and let this be resolved as Olympic decisions should be resolved -- by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), not politicized."

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U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence

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