The aftermath of the collision between the United States and Chinese aircraft just weeks ago has left me baffled. The facts of the case place the blame so strongly on the the Chinese airman that I simply cannot understand why they demanded an apology from us. The fact is that Chinese pilots have been “buzzing” American surveillance planes for at least two years, according to pro Beijing Hong Kong sources. It’s a surprise that no other incidents have occurred until now.
The fact is that since the Chinese standard of living has risen sharply for the last 20 years, the Chinese government has been given credit for this success, which creates a strong nationalist attitude in the country and a tendency to stand up to more powerful nations. The fact is that the United States, in flying this reconnaissance route, did nothing to violate international law and has been flying the same route for decades.
The reasoning in Alex Cuthbertson’s Wednesday column (“The smirk is doing the work” April 18) about U.S. action in the matter is based purely upon circumstantial evidence and a clear grudge against President Bush. Any comments made against the United States in this situation make the 24 men and women aboard the EP-3E aircraft feel unappreciated for their courageous actions and quick thinking throughout the accident. As Americans, we should be proud of our military personnel and stand behind them and support them all the way through the conflict.
Jeb Kulevich
SFA ’04
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