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China denies US aircraft carrier Hong Kong visit | |
(35 minutes later) | |
China has denied a US aircraft carrier permission to make a port visit to Hong Kong, the US state department says. | China has denied a US aircraft carrier permission to make a port visit to Hong Kong, the US state department says. |
The nuclear powered USS John C Stennis, as well as its escort ships, were prevented from docking on Friday. | The nuclear powered USS John C Stennis, as well as its escort ships, were prevented from docking on Friday. |
The US said it expected that a separate port visit for another US ship, the USS Blue Ridge, would continue as normal. | The US said it expected that a separate port visit for another US ship, the USS Blue Ridge, would continue as normal. |
A dispute over China's military presence in the South China sea has dogged relations between the US and China in recent years. | A dispute over China's military presence in the South China sea has dogged relations between the US and China in recent years. |
The request for the visit was recently denied despite a "long track record of successful port visits to Hong Kong", Pentagon spokesman Bill Urban told Reuters. | |
The USS Blue Ridge had entered Hong Kong earlier on Friday morning, Reuters reported. | |
No official reason has yet been given for the denial of permission to the aircraft carrier. | |
The ship has been touring the Western Pacific region for several months. | |
Earlier this month the US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, landed on board the USS John C Stennis to state his support for allies in the region. | |
"What's new is not an American carrier in this region," he said on 15 April. "What's new is the context of tension which exists, which we want to reduce." | "What's new is not an American carrier in this region," he said on 15 April. "What's new is the context of tension which exists, which we want to reduce." |
Earlier this month the US and the Philippines agreed to conduct joint patrols in the South China Sea. | Earlier this month the US and the Philippines agreed to conduct joint patrols in the South China Sea. |
China claims most of the sea as its own and has become increasingly assertive. | China claims most of the sea as its own and has become increasingly assertive. |
Contested South China Sea |
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