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Washington, D.C., Nov 29, 2007 -  Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) released the following statement after the Chinese government confirmed that the decision to refuse a normal port call by the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk and its escort vessels prior to the Thanksgiving holiday was a deliberate act. Originally, the Chinese government stated to President George Bush that it was a misunderstanding, not a deliberate decision.

“I am deeply frustrated by China’s refusal to allow entry to the USS Kitty Hawk for its Thanksgiving visit to Hong Kong. This is a situation in which something initially claimed to be a misunderstanding was actually a deliberate act, and resulted in thousands of sailors missing their planned leave in Hong Kong. Additionally, the hundreds of family members who had flown to Hong Kong at personal expense ended up spending the Thanksgiving holiday alone.

“However, even more serious than the impact on sailors and their families, is the statement this makes on how the Chinese view the United States and our ongoing diplomatic relations. This is another incident in a long line of signals from the Chinese that they view the United States as a competitor, not an ally. I remain concerned that the continued increase in military spending by the Chinese could have a significant long-term impact on the safety and security of the Western Pacific region as well as U.S.-Sino relations. We cannot afford a misunderstanding that leads to a misstep on either side, particularly as we near the date of Taiwan’s March 22 referendum on recognition by the United Nations.

“The duplicitous statements coming out of Beijing are emblematic of the way the Chinese conduct their brand of diplomacy and should serve as a cautionary statement to policymakers when dealing with Chinese leaders.”

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Congressman Forbes in Co-Chairman and Founder of the bipartisan Congressional China Caucus. The primary purpose of the Congressional China Caucus is to educate its members on issues pertaining to China and Chinese interests and serve as a forum for discussion of such issues. The Congressional China Caucus investigates China’s global reach and the consequences of its growing international, economic, and political influence on U.S. interests. Congressman Forbes is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee.