THE HAINAN INCIDENT.

• Position: Brief Article

Bruce Harland comments on the impact of the recent spy plane episode on Sino-American relations.

The collision in mid-air on 1 April of an American reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter has jeopardised the improved atmosphere that emerged from the visit to Washington of China's top foreign policy man, Qian Qichen. The eventual release of the American plane's crew reduced the tension, but it rose again with the opening of the negotiations for the return of the aircraft itself. As usual, the hawks on either side seized the opportunity to speak out publicly and demand stronger action by their respective governments.

The Chinese reportedly demanded the cessation of reconnaissance flights close to Chinese territory. The Americans insisted on their fight to fly anywhere in international air space. From the outside, it looked as if they were groping their way toward some understanding on the procedures to be followed to prevent a recurrence of the incident. Such an understanding evidently did exist between the United States and the Soviet Union in the later stages of the Cold War, though it was probably implicit rather than explicit. If both governments want to improve their relations, as they say they do, such an understanding may be reached.

Reconnaissance flights were a feature of the Cold War, when each side thought of the other as an enemy. The Cold War is supposed to have ended ten years ago. The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has said clearly that China is not an enemy. But the fact that both sides have nuclear weapons makes it inevitable that they will watch each other closely -- and both seem to accept that. The best that can be expected at this stage is some such understanding.

Time magazine pointed out in its 16 April issue that on each side there are people who see the two countries as enemies, and are constantly urging tougher action by their governments. The Hainan incident gave them an opportunity to push their respective lines, and they did not fail to seize it. The voices of moderation are not as loud, but they are powerful, and so far they seem to have carried the day.

With luck, the Hainan incident will pass, and the slow improvement in relations will resume. On both sides, there are strong economic reasons for getting back to business as usual. China is bent on maintaining fast economic growth, for which...