China Refuses US Port Entry
Last week, China abruptly withdrew its permission for the USS Kitty Hawk and two minesweepers to make a port visit to Hong Kong. China explained the decision as a protest against the US decision to sell advanced Patriot missile batteries to Taiwan.
In amongst all the diplomatic wrangling, I found PACCOM Commander Adm. Timothy Keating’s reaction amusing:
They suffered no damage,” Keating said. “But this is a kind of an unwritten law among seamen that if someone is in need, regardless of genus, phylum or species, you let them come in. You give them safe harbor. Jimmy Buffett has songs about it, for crying out loud.”
And, Jimmy aint as stupid as the Chinese military is…
Comment by CitSAR — November 29, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
The PACOM response is off-base and just fodder for those who can’t see the big game. I’m sure ADM Keating understands why the Chinese reacted as they did. It’s politics at the strategic level, and the Chinese govt plays that game very well.
Comment by J. — November 30, 2007 @ 10:42 am