Posted at 11:06 a.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Pacific commander still pushing for Beijing visit
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Pacific Commander Timothy Keating says China's refusal to let a U.S. aircraft carrier make a Thanksgiving port call at Hong Kong will not prevent him from pushing for a visit to China in mid-January.The Pentagon has officially protested to China over the incident, which China blamed on "a misunderstanding."
Keating told Pentagon reporters in a teleconference from his headquarters in Hawai'i that Beijing has not yet approved the visit where he would discuss several issues.
Keating and the chief of naval operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, both say they were disturbed by China's action. Roughead, formerly based in Hawai'i as Pacific Navy commander, says he hopes to speak with China's military about the incident.
