04-30-2016 (Photo: Stennis at Hong Kong)) http://JohnBatchelorShow.com/contact http://JohnBatchelorShow.com/schedules http://johnbatchelorshow.com/blog Twitter: @BatchelorShow Uncle Sam Spurned & Taunted by Eurasian Powers. Michael Vlahos, Johns Hopkins. "WASHINGTON—The Chinese government refused to allow the U.S. aircraft carrier John C. Stennis to visit Hong Kong, U.S. officials said Friday, a military and diplomatic snub that comes amid strained relations over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. "The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong told the U.S. Embassy on Thursday that it wouldn't allow the Stennis and four accompanying vessels to make a scheduled stop in Hong Kong for a long-planned port stay of about five days beginning May 3. "Beijing and Washington have been at odds over territorial claims by China in the South China Sea. The dispute has been unfolding for years, but has grown more prominent as the Chinese have expanded the islands it claims and as the U.S. has made moves to counter them..." http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-refuses-hong-kong-port-call-to-u-s-aircraft-carrier-1461951903

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/storm-clouds-gather-over-south-china-sea-ahead-of-key-un-ruling/2016/04/27/fd5d1c7b-d425-4567-b225-921c7ee1ffba_story.html:

"Washington (CNN)A Russian SU-27 conducted a "barrel roll" Friday over the top of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 which was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, the Defense Department said.

"The Russian SU-27 approached alongside within 25 feet of the U.S. aircraft and then flew inverted over the top of the plane to the other side, Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza, a U.S. Army spokesperson, said in a statement...." http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/29/politics/russians-barrel-roll-air-force-plane/index.html

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1937437/chinas-president-xi-steps-out-new-military-title-and

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/south-china-sea-the-fight-china-will-take-to-the-brink-of-war-20160425-goe3zi.html

http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2016/04/27/beijingssouthchinasealandcreationatwhatcost_109306.html

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1938277/china-build-atoll-contested-south-china-sea-source-says?utmsource=Sailthru&utmmedium=email&utmcampaign=New%20Campaign&utmterm=%2ASituation%20Report

http://amti.csis.org/scarborough-shoal-red-line/