China Bars US Warship from Hong Kong Visit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 26, 2002

China Bars US Warship from Hong Kong Visit

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Based on "an overall consideration of all the various factors'' China has denied permission for a port call in Hong Kong for an American naval vessel, an Chinese Foreign Ministry official announced on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the US consulate also confirmed Tuesday that "The Chinese government denied a requested visit by the USS Curtis Wilbur, a destroyer, to visit Hong Kong from April 5 to 9."

The last time such a request was turned down was in May last year following the collision of a US spy plane with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea, killing Chinese pilot, on April 1, 2001.

US naval visits to Hong Kong resumed in July, 2001.

Another similar ban came after the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia was bombed, killing three people, in the US-led NATO air campaign three years ago.

The bar on the USS Curtis Wilbur with some 346 crew come amid Washington's decision to allow the so-called "Taiwan Defense Miister" Tang Yao-ming to visit Florida for a military conference this month.

China has twice summoned the US ambassador for serious representation over the issue.

Source: Agencies

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