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.
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
RSS