Beijing has refused to greenlight visits by USS Green Bay, an amphibious dock landing ship, and USS Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser, to Hong Kong, the US Navy said Tuesday. The Green Bay set out from Japan’s Okinawa with 700 Marines on board and was supposed to arrive in the semi-autonomous Chinese city on Saturday. The Lake Erie, based in California, was expected in Hong Kong next month.
Hong Kong has been gripped by mass protests since March, when thousands took to the streets to protest a proposed extradition law, that would have allowed handing suspects over to the mainland. The law has now been suspended, but the protests did not subside, instead taking on a broader agenda.
China has accused the US of inciting the protests, with China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday calling the statement by the US Congress leadership denouncing police actions and encouraging the quest for “freedom, justice and democracy” in Hong Kong the “new and powerful evidence” of the US meddling. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday that he “can’t imagine why” the protests are being linked to the US. On Tuesday, fierce clashes between police and protesters broke out at Hong Kong international airport as demonstrators attempted to block the outgoing flights. At least one US flag was spotted in the protest crowd.
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Source : RT - Daily news
China denies two US Navy warships permission to dock in Hong Kong
China denies two US Navy warships permission to dock in Hong Kong
