STANDOFF WITH CHINA The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 12, 2001-- 5A China accepts U.S. letter of regret Bush very sorry for entering Chinese airspace, loss ofpilot The Washington Post Chen CI, director of Hainan Foreign Affairs Office, heads to a news conference at a Haikou hotel on China's Hainan islan & sterday to announce China will release the 24 detained crew members of a U.S. spy plane it has held for 11 days on a inese island where it made an emergency landing. Presldent lkely tobeeflt frot coo t11-day standof BEIJING - In the end, it was a matter of what the United States chose to say and what China chose to hear. The letter that U.S. Ambassador Joseph Prueher handed to Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan yes- terday asked Tang to "convey to the Chinese people and to the family of pilot Wang Wei that we are very sorry for their loss." And it said, "We are very sorry the entering of China's airspace and the landing did not have verbal clear- ance." The word "apology" did not appear in the English-language document handed to Tang. But in announcing the U.S. move and describing the letter to the Chi- nese people, China chose to translate the double "very sorry" as "shenbiao gianyi," which means "a deep expres- sion of apology or regret." AP PHOTO And the deal was done, with both id sides proclaiming they got what they wanted. "In Chinese, you don't use that phrase unless you're admitting you're wrong and accepting responsibility," said Mei Renyi, director of the Amer- ican Studies Center at Beijing For- eign Studies University. "If they're translating it that way, especially in the context of a formal letter, it means the U.S. is admitting it was wrong" But a translation into Chinese 't likely released by the U.S. Embassy used verseas other language. For "very sorry," it benefit used the Chinese words "feichang y meet- wanxi," which linguists described as an expression of great sympathy but is per- not an apology. It also used "feichang foreign baoqian," or extremely sorry. rinkley The resolution of the crisis that ocketed started when a Chinese interceptor yaquez and a U.S. intelligence plane collided days by 11 days ago in international airspace off China's southern coast has gaining revealed a long list of historical, cul- r in his tural, political and security differ- ences. In view of the tragic incident and based on my discussions with your representative, we have agreed to the following actions: Both sides agree to hold a meeting to discuss the incident. My government understands and expects that our aircrew will be permitted to depart China as soon as possible. The meeting would start April 18, 2001. The meeting agenda would include discussion of the causes of the incident, possible recommendations whereby such collisions could be avoided in the future, development of a plan for prompt return of the EP-3 aircraft, and other related issues. We acknowledge your government's intention to raise U.S. reconnaissance missions near China in the meeting. Sincerely, Joseph W. Prueher t i 3 ,. t e d t i } ., The U.S. letter to China A letter of regret from President Bush over the collision of a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter offers sympathy for the loss of the Chinese fighter pilot but not a formal apology. The letter was handed over to the Chinese foreign minister by U.S. Ambassador Joseph Prueher. Dear Mr. Minister: On behalf of the United States Government, I now outline steps to resolve this issue. Both President Bush and Secretary of State Powell have expressed ' their sincere regret over your missing pilot and aircraft. Please convey to the Chinese people and to the family of pilot Wang Wei that we are very sorry for their loss. Although the full picture of what transpired is still unclear, according to our information, our severely crippled aircraft made an emergency landing after following international emergency procedures. We are very sorry the entering of China's airspace and the landing did not have verbal clearance, but very pleased the crew landed safely. We appreciate China's efforts to see to the well-being of our crew. Baltimore Sun WASHINGTON - For President Bush, the first word that the spy-plane stalemate with China was over came in a pre- diwn phone call yesterday from his national security adviser. According to aides, Bush said "That's great" when he heard that China's state-run news media was reporting that the U.S. air crew would be sent home. But he hid his elation as he stepped before cameras two hburs later and announced matter-of-factly that a diplomatic deal had been struck. "This has been a difficult situation for both our countries," 4h said, reading a terse statement in the White House briefing room. Ignoring reporters' questions, Bush turned away from the microphones and headed to a previously planned trip to North Carolina. Aides said he did not want to say anything that might jeopardize the crew's release. Bush's success in freeing the 24 crew members isn to erase all doubts about his ability to manage an o crisis. But if history is any guide, Bush will likely politically, at least in the short term, from successfull ing the first test of his young presidency. The public's assessment of how well a president forming his job typically rises in the aftermath of a policy crisis. Presidential historian Douglas Br recalled how President Gerald Ford's popularity skyro after 39 crewmen from the U.S. merchant ship Ma were rescued in 1975 after being held for several d Cambodian forces. For Bush, standing firm against the Chinese and the safe release of the crew would represent "a feathe presidential cap," said Brinkley. SOURCE: The White House Ambiguities in translation between two very different languages proved to be key in the diplomacy that final- ly won agreement to allow the EP- 3E s 24-member crew to return home. "This gave the two countries maneuverability." said Shen Dingli, an expert on U.S.-China relations at Fudan University in Shanghai. "The United States could say it didn't apol- ogize, and China could say it did." 4P At Hainan University last night, outside a shop where a portrait of Mao Zedong hung on a back wall, law student Gozi Aixinjueluo com- plained that China had once again rolled over to stronger powers. "It's so hard to bear," he said. "They vio- lated our sovereignty and one of our pilots is dead, so we shouldn't let them go. I want our country to le powerful and strong. ... This show s that we're weak." Family of Ann Arbor native awaits his return .DETROIT (AP) - Relatives of Nicholas Mellos Diced yesterday after hearing that the Navy mechanic and 23 crewmates on a surveillance plane held by China since April I were comina0 ,"It's like a new world, a new days" Mellos's aunt, Chris Mellos of Northvi le, told Detroit television sta- tI* WDIV "I'm so thrilled." "It's great. I'm very happy," cousin Aristides Mel- los of Detroit said. Aristides Mellos said he was not surprised about China's announcement that the detained crew mem- bers were being released. The White House expected crew to be released late yesterday. then depart li inan island on a U.S. government-chartered com- mercial airliner, said a senior administration official speaking on condition of anonymity. 'The family has waited patiently and "coped very \xell" with the situation, Aristides Mellos said. When Nicholas Mellos is able to visit his family in Mi'chgan. they will "just get to4cther and have a m al -- that's what Greeks do.' the Navy man's cQusin said. icholas Mellos. 46, is a 1973 graduate of Pioneer ,h School in Ann Arbor, where he grew up the only child of immigrant parents who ran a restaurant. I1% is a 28-year Navy veteran. le is divorced and has a'12-year-old son who lives with his ex-wife in W ine "I knew that it was not going to last for a long period of time. It was just a matter of political posturing. From what I've seen and read, I think the Bush administration has done a good job." - Aristides Mellos Cousin of Nicholas Melos, Navy crewman who was detained in China Mellos holds the rank of Aviation Machinist's Mate Senior Chief Relatives and friends have said his cur- rent job in the Navy involved classified duties that Mellos rarely was able to discuss. Aristidis Mellos. Nicholas' father, is dead, and his mother. Mary, is in a Chicago-area nursing home. The crew of the U.S. Navy EP-3EH surveillance plane have been held on Hainan island in the South China Sea since they made an emergency landing there after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet. Fighter pilot Wang Wei was killed, and China held the U.S. crew while demandin that the U.S. issue a full apology and accept blame for the collision. The Bush administration did neither. but said it was "very sorry~ that the C.S. plane landed on Chinese soil. 1I knew that it was not going to last for a long peri- od of time," Aristides Mellos said of the crew's deten- tion. "It was just a matter of political posturing. From what I've seen and read, I think the Bush administra- tion has done a good job.' U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Micn.) said he welcomed news of China's agreement to release the crew. 'The Administration has handled this matter appropriately, given the circumstances in which the Chinese government placed them." Levin said in a statement. "I believe the Chinese government took far too lone to release our aircrew, and had no rea- son to demand an apology for our aircrew landing their crippled aircraft on Hainan Island after fol- lowing standard international emergency proce- dures. "The Chinese government's behavior in this inci- dent is a setback for U.S.-China relations." r. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ The University of Michigan, College of LSA presents Joel D. Blum John D. MacArthur Professor in Geological Sciences and Chair, Department of Geological Sciences Eiivi ro irnen tal Science: Research at 1 - Ac 5C.p, r rK The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy presents the inaugural Citigroup Lecture by New you can tel your mom you actually looked for a job today! Introducing three resume distribution services that help you reach those companies that meet your job needs. 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