Beijing-Sana
China has refused to respond to a request from a US Navy ship to enter Qingdao port in the coming days.
"A US navy ship was supposed to arrive on Sunday in Qingdao, but China refused its entry request," a US defense official was quoted as saying.
This month, China rejected two US warships' requests to visit Hong Kong's ports in protest at US interference in China's internal affairs.
US-China relations have been strained since last year against continuing US military provocations over Taiwan, the South China Sea and trade after the United States raised tariffs on Chinese imports.