'BUSINESS AS USUAL' FOR U.S. SPY PLANE STANDOFF NOT AFFECTING FIRMS.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

The collision of a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter has given way to a political tug of war in which neither side is willing to admit fault. But mounting disdain doesn't appear to be thwarting business relationships between the United States and China in the San Fernando Valley.

Ahmed Mushtaq, owner of Glendale-based Ahmpaq, an exporter of food additives and beverages, said the incident in China has had no impact on the business he has cultivated with Asian companies.

``I was just in China before the situation and everything was perfectly harmonious and I don't think what has happened will spill over into our business relationships,'' Mushtaq said.

As China's economy is vital to trade revenues for American companies, politics and business remain virtually autonomous. And while China welcomes U.S. expressions of regret, general apathy about the situation prevails within the business community.

``Everyone realizes this is just a political game and I don't think businessmen gave a lot of attention to it,'' said Shi Zhang, an assistant professor of marketing at UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

Though businesses seem resilient against the political epithets targeting the United States in Chinese newspapers, Zhang said it is too early to perceive an economic impact.

Despite possible repercussions, the opening of trade with China has been much too lucrative for businesses to even flinch at the current situation.

``The business communities are mutually dependent,'' Mushtaq said. ``The Chinese are conditioned not to mix business and politics.''

Glendale-based Dasibi Environmental inked a joint venture last fall with Shenyang Dongyu to build air quality measurement equipment in China.

Dasibi Project Engineer Eric Lai said he hasn't experienced any difficulty doing business with China, after signing another contract Wednesday.

While politicians could attempt to sway public opinion through businesses, Lai said businesses ``don't want any regulations or diplomatic decisions.''

In 1980, China formally banned American citrus products amid concerns that the Mediterranean fruit fly would spread. Last spring, China lifted the ban and Sunkist oranges have been shipped to Asia for about a year.

Claire Peters, spokeswoman for Sherman Oaks-based Sunkist Growers, said the recent incident has had no impact on the shipment of oranges.

Just as China depends on U.S. goods, $29.9 billion worth of cargo was shipped from China to the Port of Los Angeles in 2000, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

``Right now, it's really business as usual,'' said Julia Nagano, director of public affairs for the Port of Los Angeles. ``Goods are going in and out on schedule.''

As U.S. and Chinese officials attempt to reach an agreement in the coming days, professor James Tong, director of East Asian Studies at UCLA, said both sides have toned down their rhetoric and that the incident should soon be resolved.

However, ``If the U.S. Congress revokes the most favored nation status of China, it could be damaging to U.S. and China trade relations,'' he said.

As of Thursday's close, Dasibi's parent company, Pollution Research & Control Corp., rose 0.06 to 0.94 on the Nasdaq.