CHINA: Two U.S. warships make a friendship visit to Hong Kong

Record ID: 335102

  • Title: CHINA: Two U.S. warships make a friendship visit to Hong Kong
  • Date: 17th November 2010
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (NOVEMBER 16, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE OF USS ESSEX IN HONG KONG HARBOUR VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT ON DECK AMERICAN AND CHINESE FLAGS ON BRIDGE VARIOUS OF AV-8B HARRIER - MULTI-PURPOSE ATTACK JETS ON DECK COMMODORE AND COMMANDING OFFICERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMODORE MARK WEBER SAYING: "Well, you know that's something we let our seniors
  • Embargoed: 2nd December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA8F0LI1QYSFC5ZBIO0F1POJ6HO
  • Story Text: The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex and another warship made a port call in Hong Kong on Tuesday (November 16) amidst a territorial dispute that has soured relations between Japan and China.
    The atmosphere between Tokyo and Beijing remains chilly after a Chinese fishing trawler collided with Japanese patrol boat in September off the disputed islands known in Japan as Senkaku and in China as Diaoyu which both countries lay claim to.
    U.S. support for Japan has irked China -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday thanked the U.S. at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economic summit for its support during the dispute, which he said demonstrated the importance of the U.S.-Japan security alliance.
    The two countries have been moving to strengthen their military cooperation which both see as an important factor in maintaining security in the region as China's military grows in strength.
    It was therefore no guarantee that China would allow the U.S. warships into its waters -- in 2007 China cancelled a Hong Kong port call by the USS Kitty Hawk after President George W. Bush participated in a ceremony in which the Dalai Lama was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation's highest civilian honours.
    Commodore Mark Weber remained tight-lipped about the current state of military relations but said he had not been affected.
    "Well, you know that's something we let our seniors handle, as well as the Department of State. But as they have said in the past, we're certainly for a cooperative effort and a peaceful rise (of China) and peace and stability in the region," said Commodore Weber.
    The USS Essex, whose hold can fill with water to release two boats loaded with equipment and aid, has been working in the West Pacific, training with U.S. allies and helping Philippine victims of typhoon Megi.
    The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship has been in the region for over three months, visiting Guam, the Philippines, Singapore and was planning to undertake training in South Korea but was derailed by the typhoon relief effort.
    The annual patrol featured a series of bilateral maritime training exercises designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness between U.S. and Asian-Pacific partner nations.
    "We are involved in a lot of the inter-operability training with other countries that we have friendly relations with. So in the event that we need to go help out, that we have already built strong relationships with their military," said captain Garcia, a helicopter pilot.
    "We know how to work together and in the event of anything happening, we are here and able to step in and help or do whatever our nation needs us to do, whether it's humanitarian relief, disaster assistance or anything else."
    The warships, carrying around 2,800 naval officers and marines, are expected to dock in Hong Kong for three or four days while staff relax after over three months at sea and will not meet with China's People's Liberation Army.
    Professor Joseph Cheng of City University of Hong Kong said that China wants good relations with the U.S. "And with regards to this port call, the Chinese authorities also realise that any rejection of port call at this stage may generate news stories unfavourable to China. A rejection may well be interpreted as rising tensions between China and the U.S. and this is certainly not want the Chinese authorities would like to see."
    Cheng said that China is very wary of America trying to take advantage of regional spats to strengthen its presence in the region and would be carefully monitoring any strategic partnerships between the U.S. and Asian countries.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register