The United States tonight placed the onus squarely on China to end a 10-day standoff over the detained crew of a downed US spy plane, signaling it had gone as far as it could to resolve the crisis.
While President George W. Bush publicly preached patience, senior officials significantly stiffened the US line towards China, which is demanding a full apology over the crash between the US plane and a Chinese fighter jet.
"Given the fact that it is the Chinese government that has our men and women on their land, means it is in their power to release them," said White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer.
"The United States cannot bring them home, they must be released. And so it is in the hands of the Chinese to resolve this matter in accordance with the diplomatic procedures we have put in place."
The United States has several times expressed regret that a Chinese pilot is missing, presumed dead after the collision, but has refused to apologise, saying its plane was in international air space and did nothing wrong.
Intensive talks between the two sides have been focusing on a joint statement which will contain enough verbal gymnastics on the apology issue to satisfy both sides.
"We think we had the framework for working this out last week," said a senior State Department official.
"It's time for them to decide. We've made quite clear that we've done as much as we can."
AFP