China's Naval Rebuff Could Be Response to Dalai Lama's Medal

According to the Washington Post, China refused to let a US Navy carrier group enter Hong Kong harbor during Thanksgiving-- a port call planned months in advance-- and it is being seen as a response to the US's favorable treatment of the Dalai Lama. The Washington Post said the following:

On Thursday, China turned away the USS Kitty Hawk, which has previously docked in Hong Kong, a common rest and recuperation stop for U.S. Navy vessels. Hours later, China changed its mind, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao telling reporters, "It is a decision out of humanitarian consideration only."

But by then, the carrier, four warships and a nuclear submarine were already 250 miles out to sea and a decision was made to continue on to their base in Japan. The 8,000 personnel aboard marked Thanksgiving at sea.

A few days earlier, two U.S. minesweepers had been denied permission to refuel in Hong Kong and wait out bad weather there, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Timothy J. Keating, told the Associated Press.

Many points of tension exist between the United States and China, including trade, military issues and how to deal with Iran's nuclear program. But China takes special interest in the Dalai Lama, calling him a dangerous "splittist" who threatens the sovereignty of China. Chinese officials contend that he secretly advocates independence for Tibet, rather than just autonomy.

Traditionally, a new Dalai Lama, who is believed to be a reincarnation of a past lama, is selected by senior Tibetan monks who search for a boy born around the time of the death of the preceding lama. The Chinese government recently announced that it must approve all lama appointments.

This week, the Dalai Lama was quoted in a Japanese newspaper as saying that the Tibetan people would not support a successor who was selected by China. "If the Tibetan people wish to uphold the Dalai Lama system, one possibility would be to select the next Dalai Lama while I am still living. Among options being considered are a democratic selection by the high monks of Tibetan Buddhism, or the appointment of a successor by myself," the Dalai Lama said, according to the Sankei Shimbun.

Also see Why is the US Defying China for the Sake of Tibet and not Taiwan?

And see China Confidential's post Understanding the PLA's Thanksgiving Message.