China Denies Port Visit

The Chinese government would not allow the carrier John C. Stennis, the command ship Blue Ridge, and other U.S. Navy vessels to make port calls in Hong Kong, CNN reported April 29. The Navy could provide no explanation for the action, and the Chinese government refused to comment. The refusal comes in the wake of escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, regarding two manmade islands the Chinese constructed in the South China Sea. U.S. Navy vessels recently have approached the islands, raising the hackles of the Chinese, who claim sovereignty over the islands. The U.S. contends that the islands lie in international waters.