China: A Naval Visit Is Delayed

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Not since the Communist takeover in 1949 have U.S. Navy warships been permitted to enter Chinese waters. So when Peking last August agreed that American vessels could pay a port call, Washington laid plans to send three ships to Shanghai this spring. But last month the proposed visit hit an unexpected mine. Hu Yaobang, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, announced that only "conventional" American ships would be welcome. Since the U.S. refuses as a matter of policy to state which of its vessels carry nuclear weapons, the two countries were at a diplomatic impasse. Last week Peking and Washington took the path of least resistance: they agreed they would postpone the visit of one Spruance-class destroyer and two frigates. The reason China took the no-nuke position is unclear. Analysts say because the announcement coincided with the start-up of talks between Peking and Moscow, it is possible Hu was trying to calm Soviet fears that Sino-U.S. relations might pose some kind of military threat. It is also possible that Hu, who made the statement while on a visit to Australia, was trying to ensure a warm welcome at his next port of call, New Zealand, where the government has locked horns with Washington over its own ban on nuclear-armed ships. Either way, the decision to delay rather than cancel suggests that both sides will seek a way to resolve the issue.