China REFUSES to let US warship dock in Hong Kong as superpower tensions SOAR

Chinese authorities had given USS Wasp, and a contingent of US marines, permission to visit but this has now been rescinded.

The withdrawal of the invitation was confirmed by the US consulate in Hong Kong.

The decision was taken in response to the US imposing sanctions on a Chinese state arms company which had been buying weapons from Russia.

China also recalled a senior naval commander, Admiral Shen Jinglong, from a US naval conference following the sanctions announcement.

The economic punishments were announced by the Trump administration on Thursday.

They were placed on the Chinese military’s Equipment Development Department for purchasing S-400 anti-aircraft missiles and Su-35 combat aircraft from Russia.

When the sanctions were announced the State Department said: “Today’s actions are not intended to undermine the military capabilities or combat readiness of any country.

“But rather to impose costs on Russia in response to its interference in the United States election process, its unacceptable behaviour in eastern Ukraine and other malign activities.”

The measures were a direct response to a US law which requires sanctions on any company doing business with certain Russian intelligence and military assets, including arms companies.

On Friday Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang responded angrily to the sanctions.

He claimed: “They have severely violated the basic norms of international relations and damaged the relations between the two countries and two militaries.

“We strongly urge the US side to correct the mistakes immediately and revoke the so-called sanctions.

“Otherwise the US has to bear the consequences of it.”

China has also firmly condemned the Trump administration’s announcement that it will sell $330 million (£250 million) in military equipment to Taiwan.

Beijing claims Taiwan is part of China and not an independent state.

The USS Wasp is an amphibious assault ship which launched in 1987.

It can hold around 1,600 troops in addition to its crew.


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