[redwriter]

China has announced that thousands of US sailors aboard a flotilla of US warships could spend Thanksgiving in Hong Kong as planned, but the message came after the ships had already left because they had been refused entry.

But the group was refused entry, Lt. Cmdr. Amy Derrick-Frost said from the US Navy's Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii, adding that no reason was given. She said the ships left for their home ports.

t was not immediately clear why the vessels were barred Wednesday. Port officials said they had not been notified of the previously scheduled visit.

Asked repeatedly about Beijing's apparent reversal, China's foreign ministry spokesman Liu declined to comment.

The incident has added an unusual twist to China-US relations, strained in recent months by disputes over trade and Iran's nuclear program.

China has banned all US ships from the former British colony.

Some people are happy to see this happen. What do you think?

[PDLM]

a) this is yesterday's news
b) I favour cock-up over conspiracy

[KnowItAll]

Good post! Glad you brought it up... was planning on posting something about this and I forgot.

This is all politics... the folks that suffer because of such bans include the sailors and their families, bar owners and the "service industry".

It does nothing to change the fact that 80%+ (number pulled out of my arse) of America will be headed to the shopping malls in the next 4 days and will be consuming copious amounts of Chinese made products.

I am personally tired of the press and politicians going on about the "strained relations" nonsense and the whole dick waving that even the EU is engaging in.

Few more random thoughts once I'm done with this piece of code thats bugging me ..

[KnowItAll]

>> I favour cock-up over conspiracy

Not too sure about this one. Well calculated move I think.

Washington plans to sell Taiwan a $940 million upgrade to its missile system and there was last month's meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader whom Beijing considers a traitor.

[zenith789]

Originally Posted by redwriter

China has announced that thousands of US sailors aboard a flotilla of US warships could spend Thanksgiving in Hong Kong as planned, but the message came after the ships had already left because they had been refused entry.

But the group was refused entry, Lt. Cmdr. Amy Derrick-Frost said from the US Navy's Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii, adding that no reason was given. She said the ships left for their home ports.

t was not immediately clear why the vessels were barred Wednesday. Port officials said they had not been notified of the previously scheduled visit.

Asked repeatedly about Beijing's apparent reversal, China's foreign ministry spokesman Liu declined to comment.

The incident has added an unusual twist to China-US relations, strained in recent months by disputes over trade and Iran's nuclear program.

China has banned all US ships from the former British colony.

Some people are happy to see this happen. What do you think?

I just don't think it helps matters. what has been gained from this?

[Krad]

there's only one red blob now, so he's been upgraded from completely insufferable to marginally annoying, anyways. :P

I think there was a collective scream coming from the Wan Chai area when this news was announced.

[shilo507]

Originally Posted by Krad

I think there was a collective scream coming from the Wan Chai area when this news was announced.

Too right. There were planeloads of girls who had arrived to meet and greet the Navy. The girls I spoke to on Wednesday night were none to happy. These girls have contacts on the ships who keep them informed when they are coming in and many made the trip over for their arrival. Not good news for the bars either.

Still, that meant there were even more for me to chat to.

[PDLM]

It was a bit mean of the USN to go to Japan instead - if they'd gone somewhere that the girls can go without a visa then they could all have just hopped on a few planes and followed them...

[Krad]

Originally Posted by PDLM

It was a bit mean of the USN to go to Japan instead - if they'd gone somewhere that the girls can go without a visa then they could all have just hopped on a few planes and followed them...

I don't think the USN makes decisions on where to make port based on whether or not the girls will be there. I think they assume the girls will follow regardless. :P

[PDLM]

Well yes, but it takes time for them to get visas so they need a bit of notice.