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Chance for solution edges closer

In this story:

'Drafting a joint statement'

Face-saving formula

RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Willy Lam
Senior China Analyst

HONG KONG, China -- Washington and Beijing have made solid progress in talks over the spy plane incident but a solution could be delayed by hawkish elements in both countries.

A source close to the Communist party Central Committee said Beijing had indicated to Washington its desire to settle the matter of the 24 detained U.S. aircrew as soon as possible so that both nations could focus on long-term cooperation.

The source said Beijing had taken note of Secretary of State Colin Powell's conciliatory statement about the lost Chinese jetfighter pilot. "We've expressed our sorrow," Powell said in a TV interview on Sunday. "We are sorry that a life was lost."

While Powell's statement was not a full-fledged apology, it was a step beyond the mere expression of regrets, which had been Washington's stance so far.

'Drafting a joint statement'

In his interview with CNN last week, Chinese ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi had indicated Washington needed to say sorry over the downed jetfighter and the lost pilot.

"Beijing is studying the reply that President [George W.] Bush had written to the letter sent him by the wife of the downed pilot," the source said.

"The U.S. ambassador to China and the Chinese Foreign Ministry are also drafting a joint statement on the incident. If President Jiang [Zemin] is convinced Washington has adopted the 'right attitude,' he might agree to a formula and wording that may let both sides solve the problem without losing face."

The source added judging by Powell's willingness to say sorry, the chances for an early solution had been enhanced.

That the standoff is not about to end any time soon, however, is evident from the tepid reporting of Powell's statement by the Chinese media.

Most newspapers and websites on Monday played up Powell's point, made in the same TV interview, that the U.S. would continue air surveillance of the Chinese coast.

The semi-official China News Service reported Powell's "sorry" message but noted the U.S. side still refused to tender an apology. Some official media did not even mention that Powell had said sorry.

Face-saving formula

By contrast, the official media last Friday gave a lot of prominence to the expressions of regret by Bush and Powell.

A Beijing-based diplomat said delays might be caused by the fact that Vice President Hu Jintao, who heads an ad hoc high-level committee to deal with the negotiations, had to seek Jiang's guidance on how a face-saving formula for both sides can be reached.

Jiang, together with China's top diplomat, Vice Premier Qian Qichen, are on tour in South America and will not be back to the country until the 17th.

National papers and websites were on Monday dominated by a statement by Defense Minister Chi Haotian that Washington should take full responsibility for the incident and should issue an apology to the Chinese people.

The Liberation Army Daily also ran a commentary blasting "American hegemonism." The piece, however, also raised the issue of a compensation for the downed jetfighter and lost pilot.

Analysts said if it was made clear that compensation did not involve an American admission of legal responsibility for the incident, the payment of a certain sum, together with a diplomatically acceptable expression of contrition by the U.S., might lead to a resolution of the crisis.

The analysts also pointed to a commentary in the People's Daily over the weekend calling on all Chinese to focus on economic construction.

They said this was Beijing's message that long-term cooperation with the U.S., a key to expediting domestic economic development, should still be the country's top priority.