After a British airliner was shot down near Hainan, the United States sent the carriers USS Hornet and USS Philippine Sea to the area. American commanders issued aggressive instructions, and two Chinese aircraft were subsequently shot down. Even so, the United States obtained neither an apology nor compensation, whereas Britain had confined its response to negotiation. Cable classifies the American effort as unsuccessful. The case shows that naval power can escalate a crisis without delivering the intended political result.
Notable Point · 33:29-33:55
Carrier deployment fails to secure redress from China
The response to a British airliner's destruction shows that visible carrier power and aggressive orders do not guarantee diplomatic success.