China Fires Back at US in Diplomatic Feud

USS Reuben James won't dock in Hong Kong for New Year's

(NEWSER) - China has turned down another US Navy ship's request to make a port call in Hong Kong on New Year's Eve, bringing to three the number of vessels caught up in the dispute. The denial, announced today, accompanied China's last-minute decision last week to bar USS Kitty Hawk from visiting Hong Kong on Thanksgiving, Bloomberg reports. More»

Obama taking harder line after outreach fails

(NEWSER) - The White House has sent Beijing a clear message that making nice isn't working, and it's time to push back against increasing Chinese belligerence. President Obama's decision to sell $6 billion in arms to Taiwan is likely to be only the first of several run-ins the administration has with China this year, Helene Cooper notes in the New York Times. He's also made plans to meet the Dalai Lama soon and pledged to double American exports. More»

(AP) - Taiwan has agreed to let the Dalai Lama visit the island to comfort survivors of a devastating typhoon, a decision that could anger China. Beijing considers the Buddhist spiritual leader a "splittist" for promoting autonomy in the Chinese region of Tibet. Allowing him to visit Taiwan could undermine the rapidly improving relations between Beijing and Taipei, which have been developing close business ties after decades of enmity. More»

(NEWSER) - Countries are tightening borders and stepping up containment methods as the swine flu body count continues to rise, the New York Times reports. The disease is suspected in 152 deaths, all in Mexico; 50 US cases are now confirmed from California to New York City. Health officials in Japan and at least eight other Asian countries are now screening anyone arriving from North America. More»

Protesting monks disrupt tour of foreign journalists in Lhasa

(NEWSER) - President Bush called Chinese President Hu Jintao today and urged Beijing to begin talks with the Dalai Lama, the BBC reports. Bush also pressed for greater access to Tibet for journalists and diplomats, the White House said. China today allowed a small group of foreign reporters into Lhasa for the first time since protests began, but Tibetan monks disrupted their tour of a temple with chants of "Tibet is not free," the AP notes. More»