If you have been paying attention the last few weeks, China and US military relations have taken a nose dive. China, angered by Bush’s meeting with the Dali Lama, has closed Hong Kong’s port to all US Military ships.

The decision was first noticed when two minesweepers request permission to weather a storm in the harbor, but were turned away. Though extremely odd, the denial was given little attention until last Thursday, when the carrier Kitty Hawk sailed to Hong Kong to meet family members for Thanksgiving. The visit had been planned months prior, but upon arrival, the Chinese once again denied the US ships access to the port.

Eventually, the decision was reversed on “humanitarian grounds only,” according to the Chinese, but unfortunately, the battle group was already half way back to its post and decided not to turn back. In defense of the decision, the Chinese Foreign Minister cited the U.S. as being responsible for Kitty Hawk’s decision not to dock in Hong Kong because the U.S. President George W. Bush met with the Dalai Lama.

Today, another docking request, this time from a frigate, for New Year’s Day was denied.

Once again, a mistake in judgment by the Bush administration, has cost the US another potential ally.

Filed under: Alex Habrock, Featured Stories, Foriegn Affairs, George W. Bush, U.S. Military, china