The whole incident arose from frequent US aerial reconnaissance intelligence activities

Sing Tao Jih Pao

"Since the US government changed its arrogant attitude... the atmosphere of talks has improved significantly," the paper said.

It also conceded that the US spy plane did not deliberately crash into the Chinese jet.

"We hold that the US side should take the initiative to further show its goodwill and sincerity because the United States should bear greater responsibility for the whole incident, which indeed arose from frequent US aerial reconnaissance intelligence activities, even though the US aircraft did not deliberately ram the Chinese warplane."

'Personalized response'

While still using the word "apology", the paper suggested that a personal, rather than official, approach from President Bush could break the ice.

"The most ideal and dignified solution is to have US President Bush himself reply to the wife of the missing Chinese pilot Wang Wei, expressing his solicitude and apology.

"On the one hand, such a personalized response can steer clear of the restriction of the official stand, and on the other it is in line with the humanitarian spirit and makes it easier to justify himself to the American and Chinese people, as well as Chinese leaders," Sing Tao Jih Pao said.

'Hegemonic act'

Meanwhile, the official news agency Xinhua reported on Monday that ordinary people were continuing to condemn Washington for its "hegemonic act".

The US spy plane left a Chinese pilot missing. Where are their 'democracy and human rights' now?

Chinese businessman

"The US only cares about its own crew and the spy plane. But what about our missing pilot? ... How is it that there is such an extremely rude and arrogant government in the world?" a worker in the Chinese medicine market said.

A businessman also criticized what he described as US hypocrisy.

"The US always advocates 'democracy and human rights'. However, their spy plane openly intruded into China's territorial airspace, hit a Chinese fighter and left a Chinese pilot missing. Where are their 'democracy and human rights' now?"

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.