China allows U.S. warships into Hong Kong

HONG KONG, China -- China has allowed two U.S. warships to visit Hong Kong, in the latest sign that ties between Beijing and Washington are warming.

It is the first time American warships have been allowed to dock at the port since relations between the two countries soured after a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet collided off the south China coast on April 1.

China refused clearance in May for the minesweeper USS Inchon to visit Hong Kong as the spy plane spat led to the worst ties between the two countries in two years, when NATO bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.

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A visit to New York in May by Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, reviled by Beijing, further irked China.

But Washington and Beijing have since been mending ties.

The U.S. spy plane, stranded on Hainan Island since the collision, has been returned home. And just recently Chinese President Jiang Zemin and U.S. President George W. Bush spoke for the first time by telephone.

China's consent also comes just ahead of Friday's vote by the International Olympic Committee on which city will host the 2008 Olympics. Beijing is among the top contenders.

Beijing in charge

Although Hong Kong was returned from British hands to China four years ago and retains a lot of autonomy, Beijing is firmly in charge of defense and foreign affairs.

It has in the past barred U.S. Navy ships from making port calls to show unhappiness with China's often-touchy relationship with the United States.

China barred visits by U.S. navy ships to Hong Kong for three months after U.S. warplanes bombed China's embassy in Belgrade in May 1999, killing three people.

The visits resumed in September 1999.

But China notified the United States last week that two smaller anti-mine ships can stop here from July 25-30.

The two minesweepers, the USS Guardian and USS Patriot, are part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. They normally operate out of Sasebo, Japan.

Their crew will be welcomed at Hong Kong's bars, restaurants and shops that cater to U.S. sailors when they are in town.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.