US Coast Guard cutter is denied port call in Solomon Islands

By DAVID RISING
Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — A U.S. coast guard cutter conducting patrols as part of an international mission to prevent illegal fishing was recently unable to get clearance for a scheduled port call in the Solomon Islands. The incident comes amid growing concerns of Chinese influence on the Pacific nation. The cutter Oliver Henry was taking part in Operation Island Chief monitoring fishing activities in the Pacific, which ended Friday, when it sought to make a scheduled stop on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, to refuel and re-provision. But there was no response from the Solomon Islands government for diplomatic clearance for the vessel to land, so it diverted to Papua New Guinea.