White House says little must be said in public

US White House officials say the standoff with the Chinese has the greatest chance of resolution if little is said in public.

Ari Fleischer, a spokesman for the President, says US and Chinese officials are in contact but he will not give details of those meetings.

He also refuses to expand on whether George W Bush will say sorry for the incident - the Chinese have asked for an apology.

Fleischer told a White House press conference that this is an example of a time in international diplomacy when: "The less said is the most productive."

He reiterated the official line that: "The time's come for our servicemen and women to come home."