US Ship Caused China 'Grave Concern'

[Fash]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... &catnum=-1

BEIJING (AP) - China said Tuesday it expressed "grave concern" over the USS Kitty Hawk's passage through the politically sensitive Taiwan Strait on its return to Japan.

The U.S. aircraft carrier had been barred by China from entering Hong Kong for a Thanksgiving port call.

Mainland Chinese authorities reversed their decision, but by then the ships were too far out to sea and did not turn back.

"U.S. officials informed China at that time that it took the route because of a storm," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a briefing. "China expressed grave concern to the U.S. and requested the U.S. to take prudent moves in this highly sensitive area."

Before the Kitty Hawk incident, ties between the two sides were already frayed over the decision by Congress, with President Bush's support, to give the Dalai Lama its highest civilian honor, as well as by American arms sales to China's rival, Taiwan.

Although the Tibetan spiritual leader is lauded in much of the world as a figure of moral authority, Beijing demonizes the monk and claims he seeks to destroy China's sovereignty by pushing for independence for Tibet.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, although the two split in 1949. China has threatened to use force if the island moves to formalize its de facto independence.

Washington's decision to sell Taiwan an anti-missile defense system has been a sensitive point with China. Washington encourages the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan and is obligated by the Taiwan Relations Act to maintain sufficient force in the Pacific as a deterrent against China. But the act does not require the defense of Taiwan by U.S. forces if the island comes under attack from the mainland.

In recent weeks, the Chinese have denied entry to the USS Reuben James, a Navy frigate, and two Navy minesweepers.

Well, China, your anti-satellite capabilities cause everyone 'grave concern,' so get fucking used to it.

[Boogahz]

Maybe the "grave concern" was for the safety of the sailors they would not let into harbor during the storms.

[Nick]

The usual Saber rattling. Nevertheless, I don't understand your hostility Fash. Would the US not also express "grave concerns" if Chinese battleships were sailing in between Florida and Cuba? (i don't know if they do or not, i'm just guessing)

[Sueven]

It's not surprising, just one of those touchy areas.

I would say this though: The United States is the last country in the world that should be threatened by another nation's activities in outer space. We've explicitly rejected the prevailing international norm that space is not to be weaponized. Our military domination of space is a primary reason why we're the worlds military superpower (in conjunction with our massive defense spending). Any nation which worries-- even a little bit-- about a military confrontation with the United States should be scared stiff about outer space. China testing anti-satellite technology is troublesome for us, but only because it might serve to negate the massive military advantage that we already have.