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China in US Navy Thanksgiving ban China approves US Navy's HK visit
(40 minutes later)
China has refused permission to a flotilla of US Navy vessels to enter Hong Kong to celebrate the American Thanksgiving holiday. China has given approval to US Navy vessels to enter Hong Kong for the American Thanksgiving holiday, after initially refusing a docking request.
About 8,000 sailors and air crew on board the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and other ships had expected to dock in Hong Kong on Wednesday. About 8,000 personnel on the USS Kitty Hawk and other vessels had expected to dock in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
No reason has been given for the refusal. US officials said they were trying to persuade China to reconsider. US officials said permission to enter the port had been denied, but China later said it would allow the flotilla to dock for "humanitarian" reasons.
But the sailors are now spending Thanksgiving on the South China Sea. The sailors have spent most of Thanksgiving on the South China Sea.
"For a lot of guys, this is their favourite port in the entire area of operations for us in the Western Pacific," a crew member told Reuters news agency. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed the apparent U-turn, saying China had informed the US of its decision.
"This is also the Kitty Hawk's last port visit here before being decommissioned - so it was a big deal." "We have decided to allow the Kitty Hawk strike group to stay in Hong Kong during Thanksgiving, and it is a decision out of humanitarian consideration only," Mr Liu said.
Families of many of the crew members had flown out to Hong Kong to spend the holiday with their loved ones.Families of many of the crew members had flown out to Hong Kong to spend the holiday with their loved ones.
US consular officials said they had been in touch with the families to explain the situation. "For a lot of guys, this is their favourite port in the entire area of operations for us in the Western Pacific," a crew member told Reuters news agency before China's decision to allow them entry was known.
The US State Department confirmed the decision, and said they were "pressing the Chinese foreign ministry for an explanation and for a reconsideration". "This is also the Kitty Hawk's last port visit here before being decommissioned - so it was a big deal."
Analysts have suggested Beijing might have taken the action to register disapproval over US plans to sell Taiwan a $940m (£456m) upgrade to its missile system. Earlier, US consular officials said they had been in touch with the families to explain the situation.
Hong Kong has long been a favoured port of call for the US military, but Beijing's approval has been required since 1997, when the UK handed the territory back to China.Hong Kong has long been a favoured port of call for the US military, but Beijing's approval has been required since 1997, when the UK handed the territory back to China.
The Kitty Hawk, which is based in Japan, is the US Navy's oldest active ship and is due to be decommissioned next year.The Kitty Hawk, which is based in Japan, is the US Navy's oldest active ship and is due to be decommissioned next year.