By Deanna Martin

	A Chinese woman holding a child in her arms walks past a newspaper with the headline, "U.S. Express Regret" on April 6. AP photo.

President Bush has pushed to keep countries at peace and to strengthen ties with allies, and neighboring nations. Here's a look at his foreign policy in three major areas during his first 100 days as President of the United States.

China
In Early April, a Chinese fighter jet collided with a U.S. spy plane flying over the South China sea. China demanded an official apology from the U.S., and held the plane and the 24 members its crew until they received one. China wanted the U.S. to take full responsibility for the incident, but the U.S. believes that the collision was the fault of the Chinese pilot.

The incident was the first to test President Bush's diplomatic skills. After first demanding the immediate return of U.S. troops, he worked with his advisors to write an apology that would satisfy the Chinese government without taking responsibility for the crash. Some of his advisors wanted to send an aircraft carrier near China to warn them that the U.S. meant business, but President Bush was determined to solve the problem through dialogue.

The Middle East
When Bill Clinton was President, he spent much time trying to ease tensions in the Middle East by talking with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. President Bush hopes to help the region move toward peace, but he refuses to meet with Arafat until the violence ends.

This month, Bush met with Jordan's King Abdullah about how to persuade Israel and Palestine to stop the conflict and start peace negotiations.

"My approach will be to facilitate [Israel and Palestine]'s work in finding their own solution to peace," said President Bush.

Mexico
In February, Bush made his first official visit to a foreign country when he travelled to Mexico to meet with President Vicente Fox.

"Mexico is the first foreign country I have visited as President, and I intended it to be that way," said Bush. "Our nations are bound together by ties of history, family, values, commerce, and culture."

The two leaders discussed strengthening their trade relationship, how Mexico and the U.S. can work together to meet their current and future energy needs, safe and orderly migration, expanding educational opportunities, and how to fight drugs and organized crime.