Chinese Web surfers heaped vitriol on the United States in Internet chatrooms today, calling on China to play hardball with the US following a mid-air collision between a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet.
"The whole nation is waiting to see if this time China can play hardball with the US. We don't need diplomacy. We need dignity and a strong national spirit," said one surfer on the Sohu.comportal.
Internet chatrooms on the country's biggest portals, Sina.com, Sohu.comand Chinadotcombuzzed with opinions of affronted surfers who saw the mid-air collision at the weekend as a challenge to China's dignity and national interests.
"We should sentence all of the American crew to jail terms and execute the pilot of the US plane, and boycott American products," said an anonymous surfer on Sina.com.
Meanwhile another called on President George Bush "to get down on his knees and apologise."
Some 60,962 respondents have taken part in a Chinadotcomsurvey since news of the collision broke on Sunday and the bulk opted for a hardline approach, with 18.06 per cent advocating China "be unyielding and not release the hostages."
AFP