When a Chinese fighter plane brushed against the side of a US Navy surveillance plane, the US Navy plane made an emergency landing on a Chinese air force base. The crew was interned; in luxury, but interned nonetheless. Everybody wondered why President Bush didn’t just call the president of China and demand the crews return. He didn’t because that airbase was owned (the property of) a red general. The President of China has no power over a red general and Bush knew this. Calling with a ridiculous demand would have caused the Chinese president to lose face.
The red generals are the real power in China. The president of china and the Central Committee are like a homeowner’s association. They have some powers, but can’t dictate to the generals. The president of China had to negotiate with the red general. The general probably got a new missile plant or a few million dollars. It took a long time to get the crew back in western terms. But hostage negotiation (and that’s what it was) can take years in China. As long as the negotiation is going okay, the hostage is “an honored guest” (their exact phrase for the Navy personnel.)
And then... The USS Chicago entered the port of Sasebo, in south-west Japan, without prior warning on Monday - apparently in contravention of an accord between the two countries....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1257673.stm
Nuclear subs don't behave like that, it was a message to China.