Both the US and China were patting themselves on the back after ending an 11-day standoff over the collision of a US spy plane with a Chinese fighter, but many in Asia believe Beijing was the victor -- at least on points.
Analysts said Washington's carefully worded letter of regret for the accident after initial belligerence and China's quick response in freeing the 24-member crew of the spy plane yesterday had handed much of the kudos to Beijing.
"On the question of which country emerges from this confrontation with greater pride and a better image, I would say that out of 100, China scores higher at 60 versus 40 for the US," said Suthichai Yoon, group editor in chief of The Nation media group in Bangkok. "To its people, the Chinese government can, to an extent, claim victory from the standoff."
Even in Taiwan, a leading Chinese-language daily said that "Communist China is absolutely a winner" in the short term.
"As China decided to release the US plane crew, those who had a good impression of China breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Beijing did the right thing. Those who were hostile towards China cannot help but acknowledge what Beijing did was well-done," the daily said.
In Hong Kong, the Ming Pao Daily News blamed Bush's ``arrogance'' for causing the diplomatic row.
Analysts agreed that Beijing in contrast had played its cards well.
"From China's point of view, it had tried to politically exploit the outcome of the standoff," said Chaiwat Kamchu, dean of the Political Science faculty at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
"Beijing also scored a moral victory in the international community by claiming that it released the 24-member US crew for humanitarian reasons. "Washington needs to avoid any similar future incidents that could fuel negative, anti-American sentiment in this region although US allies in Asia have been careful not to be seen as taking sides on this issue."
Singapore's Straits Times was more even-handed but came down in favor of China. "The resolution of the crisis brings a win-win situation for both China and the US," the newspaper said in an article.
But it added: "Credit must go to China for defusing a major crisis by not demanding a full apology from the US. In the settlement ... China has made a major concession.
"Although it deserves a formal apology, since justice and the trump card -- the US crew -- are both on its side, it [did] not exploit them to the fullest extent."
But The Australian newspaper ruled in favor of Bush. It condemned China for detaining the crew.
"One of the harsh realities the spy plane crisis in Hainan reveals is just how little store the Chinese leadership sets by international law and how much in the crude use of power," The Australian said. "There was no legal basis for detaining the US crew."
Analysts however warned the two countries were likely to be locked in conflicting positions again -- with the US EP-3 plane and its high-tech electronic hardware still on Hainan island and Washington's upcoming decision over the sale of advanced military weaponry to Taiwan both potential flashpoints.
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