With crew's release, experts focus on U.S.-China relationship

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- China's decision to release the U.S. crew it had detained for 11 days eased tensions, but the two countries need to work on their relationship, foreign policy experts said Thursday.

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"The crux of this dispute is not resolved, regardless of the release of the crew" said James Hsiung, a professor at New York University. He warned of a "bumpy road" ahead for the two countries.

At the top of the agenda is Wednesday's meeting between the two countries to discuss the April 1 collision between a Navy spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet and related issues. The Chinese pilot was apparently killed in the collision, which forced the crippled U.S. plane to land on China's Hainan Island and sparked the impasse on the crew's release.

China handed over the crew Wednesday, but it is holding onto the sophisticated EP-3E surveillance plane and continues to raise objections to reconnaissance flights off its coast. Those issues are expected to be discussed at the April 18 meeting, but National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Thursday the flights will continue.

"They are not going away," she said. "They are an important part of our national security strategy." Rice said the United States is open to discussing how the reconnaissance flights "might be done in a way that does not cause an incident of the kind that we've just had," but she emphasized that China would have to play a role in assuring safety in international air space as well.

Several experts said both countries need to take a broader, long-range look at the relationship.

"This accident shows the importance of engagement," said Jaime FlorCruz of the Council on Foreign Relations. He called on the Bush administration to develop a "coherent policy" toward China and reassure the country that it is not the "next evil empire."

The incident, however, aroused an unusual coalition of conservatives and liberals in Congress. Many conservatives have a problem with China's communist government, while liberals object to China's record on human rights.

Their feelings are likely to play a role in future debates on the U.S. trade policy with China as well as arm sales to Taiwan that the Bush administration is considering.

"This only fortifies those of us who think Taiwan has a just cause and a just reason to be fearful of adventuristic and aggressive activity from People's Republic of China," said Sen. George Allen, R-Virginia.

At the same time, Allen allowed that China is an important market for American businesses and farmers.

"Obviously, we have an interest in being engaged with China," he said.

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USCINCPAC Homepage
The Pentagon
U.S. Navy
Navy Fact File: EP-3E ORION (ARIES II) Aircraft
U.S. Department of Defense
Government of China (in Chinese)
U.S. Department of State
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the U.S.A.
Government Information Office, Republic of China

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