This CNNfyi.com lesson plan is supplemented with material from

International relations between the United States and China

April 12, 2001
Web posted at: 7:30 PM EDT (2330 GMT)

Curriculum connections: Social Studies - - International relations

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Identify and explain the United States and China's relations before, during and after the air collision.
• Analyze both the short and long-term effects of the detainment of the U.S. servicemen.
• Write a letter stating their position on reconnaissance missions over international waters.

Standards

National Council for the Social Studies IX Global connections, grades nine -12 High school students should be able to think systematically about personal, national, and global decisions, interactions, and consequences, including addressing critical issues such as peace, human rights, trade and global ecology.

Materials

CNNfyi.com article,"With crew's release, experts focus on U.S.-China relationship"
Internet access
Semantics of "sorry"
Tension between U.S., China grows
A collision of air traffic and more

Suggested time

One class period

Procedure

1. Ask students what they know to date about the Chinese and U.S. crisis over the mid-air plane collision.

2. Have students read the CNNfyi.com article, "Celebration clouded by key unresolved issues," and ask the following:

• Where were the U.S. service personnel held in China? How long were they detained? What ended the 11- day stay? Why do you think that the Chinese officials wanted an apology from the United States? Why do you think it is significant the U.S. and Chinese officials will meet on April 18th?
• What is a reconnaissance mission? Do you think that China should be allowed to insist an end to reconnaissance missions over international waters near China? Why or why not? Who is Condoleezza Rice? What does she state about the future of reconnaissance missions? Why does the United States insist that the plane should be respected as a "U.S. sovereign territory"? Why do Chinese officials believe that the plane had lost its sovereign status? Which country do you agree with? Why?
• How do you think this event will affect Beijing's 2008 Olympic bid? On what other issues do the United States and China disagree? What is the World Trade Organization? Why does the United States support the admission of China to the WTO? Do you think this contradicts the U.S. stand against China regarding human rights? Explain.

Extension

Students can follow HighWired.com's classroom project, What's happening in China? to learn more about the social and historical context of issues in China.

Assessment

Generate a class discussion about both the short and long-term effects of the United States service personnel detained in China and how it may affect the relationship between the two countries. Direct them to write essays about how this incident may affect their negotiations regarding their bid for the Olympics, for admission into the WTO and for trade with China.

Accommodations

Logical/mathematical Students can create timelines explaining the details of the events following the air collision between a Chinese fighter jet and EP-3 Aries II surveillance plane, a U.S. Navy plane equipped with some of America's most sophisticated spy technology.

Challenge

Students can write letters to U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice stating their opinions about reconnaissance missions over international waters. Direct students to give detailed examples supporting their position.

DefenseLINK - Official Web Site of the U.S. Department of Defense
US Department of State - Home Page
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America
Government Information Office, Republic of China
USCINCPAC Homepage

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