OFF TOPIC: USA / China (What happened and what will happen?)

[Volker_Nemsch]

I agee that this thread is off topic but those questions are interesting because:

1.)
Where did the crash happen? As usual both sides say that the others are wrong.

2.)
Why did the crew land the plane on chinese territiory instead of crashing the plane in international waters and escaping with the help of parachutes? The US-Navy surely would have found a way to save them. Perhaps it happened on the ´other´ side?!?

3.)
Is there an international (not necessarily written) agrement for such cases. What will happen to the crew of the `captured` plane?
What will be done with the plane (and the very interesting equipment inside)?

Let´s start!
Volker Nemsch

[mike_baram]

In all probability, the crew destroyed sensitive equipment before landing. They had enough time (I hope).
The plane is considered soverign territory of the US, but I doubt if the Chinese will respect that. They seem to have their own interpretation of international law.
Holding the crew incommunicado is a serious breach of international law. Unfortunately, this ain't North Korea and the plane ain't the Mayaguez.

If this had been a Russian spy aircraft force-landing in Alaska, how would America react ? The treatment of the aircrew would probably be more liberal - but do you really believe the USAF and CIA would not swarm the airplane and seek out every scrap of information they could find ?

"Sovereignty territory" indeed !

Several years ago, when a Soviet Air Force pilot defected with a Mig-25 to Japan, at that time the hottest plane in the Red inventory and the biggest mystery, the Russians demanded that the Japanese government return the plane post-haste.

The Japanese complied, and shipped the plane back within a few days, in a large series of small boxes, the aircraft having been stripped down to the last nut and bolt and photgraphed, measured and inspected to a fare-thee-well...

I am also told that some wag included a thank you card signed " the CIA"

While I would never subscribe to the notion that either our intelligence services or our media operate with complete saintliness, I cannot recall an instance when this nation has intentionally caused a force-landing, even over the decades of Soviet aerial intelligence activity. IMHO, this was not an accident.

Neither was this an isolated event. There have been a number of such Chinese-American confrontations, both naval and air, over the past several months.

Very provocative and dangerous situation IMHO.

Byron

The US-forces are recommended to stay away from foreign territories. What about a Chinese recce approaching Hawaii ?

Was the US plane Spying?If so The Chinese have
a right to be peeved.

[Shooter]

Almost certainly the a/c was engaged in electronic surveillance--that is the mission of the EP-3. My source in the USN tells me that the Navy was operating in international airspace, howver the Chinese claim an extraordinary amount of territorial water (and the airspace above) which put the EP-3 within disputed Chinese airspace--even though not recognized by international agreement, the ChiCom's defend this turf jealously around Hainan Island. Back in '66 they shot down two Navy raiders returning from NVN to Yankee Station for the same reason.

I do not believe that the crews of P-3's or EP-3's are issued parachutes and NO ONE relishes a forced panding at sea. Landing at a Chinese air base was preferrable to ditching.

Once in ChiCom hands, the a/c--with its highly classified contents--is fair game. We can @#$% and moan all we want. If wwe get it back, at all, we will be fortunate.

I am somewhat aghast of the skills of a Chinese fighter jock who collided with the EP-3. Any MiG should have been fast enough and nimble enough to avoid collision, if the driver has his head on straight.

Shooter sends

What will happen depends on several things. (1) Does the U.S. want trade with China more than China wants trade with the U.S. ? (2) Does CNN wall-to-wall coverage with lurid headlines force George W.Bush to take a harder line than he would like ? (3) Does George W. Bush consult with former spymasters (daddy included) ? (4) What does China get out of this ? Answer to (4) is more obvious - is George W. Bush willing to delay arms updating of Taiwan to placate - temporarily, the People's Republic of China ?

[mike_baram]

5) Will Bush be as easygoing on China as his predecessor was? As yet, the RNC hasn't received half a million dollars as a "contribution" from the PLA, and I don't think they ever will.