US officials left China today after prickly talks on the spy plane dispute produced little more than more finger-pointing.
Strained relations will now be tested even further by a looming US decision on arms sales to Taiwan; the detention in China of another US citizen of Chinese origin and China's demand the US return the leader of a spiritual sect accused by Beijing of rape and manslaughter.
Adding to the tension Taiwan's military began annual war games to practice repelling a Chinese invasion.
The US team led by Mr Peter Verga told reporters before leaving Beijing that no date had been set for further talks.
As expected this week's talks produced no agreement on US demands for the return the plane stranded on Hainan Island since making an emergency landing there on April 1st.
Nor did the US yield to Chinese demands it halt surveillance flights off China's coast.
Still Mr Verga offered a cautiously upbeat assessment of the talks US negotiators almost called off at the end of the first day after saying China had refused to discuss the return of the $80 million.
He indicated the two sides had not even made a start on working out details. The 24 crew were released last week after being held for 11 days.