World
China Denies Permission To US Naval Ship To Dock In Hong Kong Next Month
The USS Wasp was scheduled to make a port call in the former British colony of Hong Kong in October
Amid diplomatic tension growling between the US and China over tariffs and military sanctions, China has denied permission to a US Navy ship to dock in Hong Kong, the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong confirmed on Wednesday. The USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship with a crew of more than 1,000 sailors on board, was scheduled to make a port call in the former British colony of Hong Kong in October.
The news comes just a week after the Donald Trump-led administration imposed sanctions on Beijing for its purchase of Russian weapons and equipment. China was sanctioned for its purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system and Sukhoi Su-35 combat aircraft.
Well, the Chinese government was quick and severe in responding to the new US sanctions. The decision to cancel the U.S. naval ship’s port visit followed Beijing’s decision to withdraw from a high-level meeting between the top Chinese and US naval commanders, which was due to be held this week.
Adding fuel to the fire was the US government’s decision to approve $330 million in arms sales of spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and other military aircraft to Taiwan. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang straightaway called the $330 million sales a serious breach of international law and harmful to Chinese sovereignty and security interests.
Furthermore, President Trump also lashed out at China in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, accusing Beijing for intellectual property theft and tariffs on U.S. goods, saying “I have great respect and affection for my friend, President Xi, but I have made clear our trade imbalance is just not acceptable. China’s market distortions and the way they deal cannot be tolerated.”
He has also threatened to up the tariff rate to up to 25 percent by January next year if no trade deal is met with Beijing.
As both the US and China are showing no signs of negotiation, there is still no end in sight to the trade war between the two countries.
