From Navy Times

 

Kitty Hawk returns to Japan after China snub

By Eric Talmadge - The Associated Press

Posted : Tuesday Nov 27, 2007 6:58:19 EST

 

YOKOSUKA, Japan — The aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and its battle group returned to Japan on Tuesday after being refused entry for a port call in Hong Kong, where the ships were set to mark Thanksgiving.

 

The Kitty Hawk, which has its home port in this city just south of Tokyo, was forced to return to Japan early when Chinese authorities at the last minute refused to allow the warship and its escort vessels to enter Hong Kong harbor.

 

“We are befuddled at this point,” said battle group commander Rear Adm. Rick Wren. “They simply said ‘Sorry, no,’ without an explanation.”

 

The Hong Kong stopover had been planned for months, and Chinese officials refused to say why they turned the ships back. Once the ships had left the area, they added further confusion by reversing their decision and saying they would allow the Kitty Hawk to dock “for humanitarian purposes.”

 

The Navy, which has expressed concern and disappointment over the incident, said by then the weather was getting bad and it was too late for the ships to go back.

 

Nearly 8,000 sailors aboard the Kitty Hawk and its carrier battle group celebrated Thanksgiving at sea Thursday. Wren said about 290 families had flown to Hong Kong to mark the holiday with the sailors, who weren’t due back in Japan until Dec. 1.

 

“It was a bit disappointing,” he said. “But we are good sailors and we will do what we need to do. One of the great things about the Navy is our flexibility. We can go anywhere — except Hong Kong.”

 

It was the second time in a week that China refused to let Navy ships into the port.

 

Two U.S. minesweepers seeking refueling and shelter from bad weather in the South China Sea had asked for permission to enter Hong Kong three or four days before the Kitty Hawk. Those ships were denied.

 

The developments come as the U.S. military has been trying to bolster ties with the Chinese military to prevent misunderstandings and the potential for miscalculation.

From DefenseNews

 

Posted 11/28/07 16:52

China: Snub of U.S. Navy Not a Misunderstanding

REUTERS, BEIJING

 

The saga of a U.S. aircraft carrier being denied entry to Hong Kong at Thanksgiving took a bizarre turn Nov. 29, when China denied saying the whole affair had been a misunderstanding.

The White House said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had told President George W. Bush as much Nov. 28.

The Defense Department said it had issued a formal complaint to China and that Beijing still had not provided sufficient explanation for blocking the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, and eight ships traveling with it, entry to Hong Kong for a long-planned Thanksgiving holiday visit.

China later changed its mind, but by then the carrier group was steaming back to Japan.

"Reports that Foreign Minister Yang said in the United States that it was a misunderstanding do not accord with the facts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference.

There has been speculation that China’s move to block the ships was related to irritation over U.S. plans to help Taiwan upgrade its missile system and a meeting between Bush and exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

"China approved the visit of the Kitty Hawk group to Hong Kong based on humanitarian reasons. The decision made by the U.S. later was up to them,” Liu said without elaborating. Liu also denied receiving a complaint from the U.S.

"The Chinese side has not received any protest from the U.S. side. I don’t think there should be a protest on this issue," he said, suggesting reporters ask the U.S. why its officials decided not to send the ship to Hong Kong after China approved the visit.

Beijing’s action came as a surprise just weeks after a visit to China by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates that has been described by U.S. officials as positive.

China-U.S. relations have improved since 2001, when their militaries broke contact following a collision between a Chinese fighter jet and U.S. spy plane.

But many differences remain over issues such as China’s military buildup and U.S. weapon sales to Taiwan.

Liu said he thought generally that Sino-U.S. ties were developing well but expressed dissatisfaction with some recent U.S. actions.

"We think that generally communication, talks and exchanges are progressing smoothly. Both sides have smooth communication on bilateral and international issues," he added. "But it should be pointed out that recently, bilateral relations have been interfered with and damaged by mistaken actions by the U.S. For example, U.S. leaders have met the Dalai Lama. Also on the Taiwan question, China approves of the U.S. opposing Taiwan’s U.N. entry referendum. At the same time, we have grave concern with U.S. arms sales to Taiwan."