Beijing and Washington are set for a bruising round of talks over the mid-air collision that led to a diplomatic stand-off and threatened to poison ties between the two countries.
The two sides have taken tough public positions and analysts say there are concerns that Beijing may insist on a halt to American spy flights before it returns the US spy plane that made an emergency landing in China.
'I would anticipate an acrimonious meeting that does not accomplish much,' said David Shambaugh, a noted China academic at George Washington University in Washington. 'My guess is the Chinese side will be filled with accusations and demands.'
While the US has said it wants a businesslike atmosphere for the talks, which start in Beijing today, it has also insisted it will resume the spy flights, though Washington has not said when.
'What I fear is a Chinese position demanding a cessation of reconnaissance flights in exchange for the plane. Washington is probably prepared to forgo the plane,' Mr Shambaugh said.
The eight-member US team, which arrived in Beijing yesterday, is led by Peter Verga, Deputy Under-secretary of Defence, and includes Rear-Admiral Steven Smith, the director of strategy planning and policy with the US Pacific Command.
The Chinese team is led by Lu Shuming, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's North America department.
