What's in a word?

[Douglas G. Wilson]

There's a difference between "I'm sorry that you got drunk and rammed your
car through your garage door" and "I'm sorry that I got drunk and rammed my
car through your garage door". And there's a difference between "In case 5%
of the blame belongs to me, I apologize" and "Because I am completely at
fault, I apologize".

What China WANTS to hear no doubt is something like "I accept unlimited
blame, and in order to atone I offer you absolutely anything that you
want." No doubt the US would be happy with a corresponding concession in
the other direction. Neither side should hold its collective breath, of course.

-- Doug Wilson