On April 29, the Chinese government denied the USS John C. Stennis, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, access to Hong Kong port. Further, while conducting operations in the South China Sea, the carrier hosted Defense Secretary Ash, who spoke against unilateral changes to the South China Sea status quo by any of the claimants. The best way to start visits on a more regular basis would have been if John C. Stennis re-routed to Taiwan right after the Hong Kong refusal. Even without the Hong Kong refusal, Washington had more than enough reasons to withhold an invitation to RIMPAC. If that was not sufficient enough, Beijing’s South China Sea island building should be [article continues here].