America's global reach means that the people who govern it, more than those in most other countries, are judged by how they handle foreign crises. The collision off China's coast between an American spy plane and a Chinese jet is the first such test for the Bush administration. So far, it has come through the challenge reasonably well, especially considering that China holds all the cards (that is, the aircraft and its crew). But if the handling has been cautious, the first results have also been modest, and the accident is fast turning into a defining moment in the two countries' souring relationship.
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