To: New York Times <letters@nytimes.com>
Re: Sino-American standoff: a sequel to "Familiar tactics"
Date: Tue, 10 April 2001
   

Re NYT April 10, 2001

News Analysis: Many Voices for Beijing

U.S. Shies Away From Threats in Plane Standoff With China

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

When two planes collide in midair it is ludicrous to assume that it could have been anything other than an accident.

 

However, one will want to know what caused the accident and whether one plane or both were wholly or partially to blame.

 

According to my information, the US recognisance plane had every right to be where it was.

 

Those who claim that America had no right to be spying on the Chinese need to be reminded of why they were doing so: because in word and deed the People’s Republic never tires of threatening America's friends in Taiwan with military aggression.

 

The American government, it seems to me, has behaved correctly. It is the Chinese who are out of order - by immediately and prior to any investigation, placing all the blame with the American plane.

 

This is the cause of the nasty situation that has arisen, and can only be “fairly” resolved by the Chinese backing off and correcting (if not apologising for) their premature (though I would assume, cold-blooded and calculated) accusations.