President George W. Bush got the phone call in the early hours of April 11. After nearly two weeks of tense talks between the U.S. and China, he heard the words he had been waiting for: The 24 crew members of a U.S. Navy spy plane would finally be coming home.

China had been holding the Navy men and women since April 1, when their plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet. The jet and its pilot crashed into the water below. The U.S. pilot managed to make an emergency landing on the island of Hainan, China, though he did not have China's permission to land there. U.S. officials worked day and night with the Chinese, trying to arrange the release of the crew members. China said it would not free them until the U.S. apologized and accepted responsibility for the crash. But finding the words for an apology that both sides could accept was no easy matter.

Troubled Relations
The U.S. and China have a difficult history. The two nations do not agree on human rights and other issues. China is not a democracy. Its people are unable to criticize their government freely or choose national leaders.

This month's standoff was especially difficult because the U.S. plane had been gathering top-secret information. Flying close to China's coastline, it was observing the Chinese military. China wants these flights to stop. U.S. officials say the flight path is over international waters, where any nation's planes are allowed to fly.

Chinese fighter jets in the area had reportedly been very aggressive. U.S. officials complained to China about the danger. Says Admiral Dennis Blair of the U.S. Pacific Command: "It's not normal to play bumper cars in the air."

What began as a routine mission turned into a standoff-and a lesson in language. China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen insisted that an apology for the collision "is key to solving the problem." But U.S. officials refused, saying the chunky plane, known as a "flying pig," is too slow to have caused the crash. At first they would only express "regret" for the incident. This language was not enough to win the crew's release.

Both sides had much to gain by peacefully settling the situation. The U.S. and China trade $116 billion worth of products each year. Also, China wants to host the 2008 Olympics and join an international business group called the World Trade Organization. The U.S. could help in these matters. But it seemed that the simple word sorry might stand in the way.

Agreeing To Disagree
Diplomats finally worked out a compromise. Instead of delivering a formal apology or taking the blame, the U.S. said it was sorry for the loss of the Chinese pilot and for landing in Hainan without permission. A letter was written in English using specific phrases, such as "very sorry." China could then translate the U.S. message into words that would give its people the feeling of a true apology.

Each side had its own interpretation of the letter, and that was the point. THE UNITED STATES FINALLY APOLOGIZES! said a Chinese newspaper headline. Said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell: "We did not do anything wrong, and therefore it was not possible to apologize."

Either way, the crew made it home. Joyful family and friends celebrated their return. The crew was scheduled to arrive at its Whidbey Island base in Washington State on Saturday after a two-day stop in Hawaii. "Welcome home," President Bush told them by speakerphone. "You represent the best of America."

China and the U.S. planned to discuss returning the damaged U.S. plane and investigating the crash. The agreement last week proved the power of words. Still, some feelings were beyond expression. Said Sandy Guidry, when she first heard that her son Scott was coming home from China: "I'm just so ecstatic, I can't tell you."

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April 20, 2001 World Report