A US Coast Guard cutter was unable to enter Solomon Islands for a routine bunkering call because authorities ignored its request to land, said a US official.
The Solomons government did not immediately answer a Reuters request for comment. The Solomon Islands has had a tense relationship with the United States and its allies since striking a security pact with china in May.
The USCGC Oliver Henry was on patrol for illegal fishing in the South Pacific for a regional fisheries agency when it failed to obtain entry to refuel at Honiara, the Solomons' capital, a US Coast Guard press officer told Reuters.
The US vessel was diverted to Papua New Guinea instead, the official said.
The Royal Navy declined to comment after its HMS Spey patrol boat, also taking part in the illegal fishing operation, was also denied Solomon Islands port access.
'Ships' programmes are under constant review, and it is routine practice for them to change. For reasons of operational security we do not discuss details,' a Royal Navy spokesman said in an emailed statement.
The Solomons' government and Beijing have ruled out a Chinese military base on the islands, although a leaked draft showed the security agreement would allow the Chinese navy to dock and replenish.
The fisheries agency for the Pacific Islands Forum, a block of 17 Pacific nations, has a maritime surveillance centre in Honiara, and holds annual surveillance operations for illegal fishing with assistance from Australia, United States, New Zealand and France.
The USCGC Oliver Henry was scheduled for a routine logistics port call in the Solomon Islands, Kristin Kam, a US Coast Guard spokeswoman in Hawaii told Reuters.
'The Government of the Solomon Islands did not respond to the US Government's request for diplomatic clearance for the vessel to refuel and provision in Honiara,' she said.
'The US Department of State is in contact with the Government of the Solomon Islands and expects all future clearances will be provided to US ships,' she said.
HMS Spey had Fiji naval officers aboard as it worked alongside long-range maritime patrol aircraft from Australia and New Zealand and the US Coast Guard in the operation to gather information for the Pacific Islands Forum fisheries agency, the Royal Navy said.
It carried out inspections of suspect vessels in ports as well as boardings at sea, the statement said.
A Royal Navy spokesman said it 'looks forward to visiting the Solomon Islands at a later date.'
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The Solomons government did not immediately answer a Reuters request for comment. The Solomon Islands has had a tense relationship with the United States and its allies since striking a security pact with china in May.
The USCGC Oliver Henry was on patrol for illegal fishing in the South Pacific for a regional fisheries agency when it failed to obtain entry to refuel at Honiara, the Solomons' capital, a US Coast Guard press officer told Reuters.
The US vessel was diverted to Papua New Guinea instead, the official said.
The Royal Navy declined to comment after its HMS Spey patrol boat, also taking part in the illegal fishing operation, was also denied Solomon Islands port access.
'Ships' programmes are under constant review, and it is routine practice for them to change. For reasons of operational security we do not discuss details,' a Royal Navy spokesman said in an emailed statement.
The Solomons' government and Beijing have ruled out a Chinese military base on the islands, although a leaked draft showed the security agreement would allow the Chinese navy to dock and replenish.
The fisheries agency for the Pacific Islands Forum, a block of 17 Pacific nations, has a maritime surveillance centre in Honiara, and holds annual surveillance operations for illegal fishing with assistance from Australia, United States, New Zealand and France.
The USCGC Oliver Henry was scheduled for a routine logistics port call in the Solomon Islands, Kristin Kam, a US Coast Guard spokeswoman in Hawaii told Reuters.
'The Government of the Solomon Islands did not respond to the US Government's request for diplomatic clearance for the vessel to refuel and provision in Honiara,' she said.
'The US Department of State is in contact with the Government of the Solomon Islands and expects all future clearances will be provided to US ships,' she said.
HMS Spey had Fiji naval officers aboard as it worked alongside long-range maritime patrol aircraft from Australia and New Zealand and the US Coast Guard in the operation to gather information for the Pacific Islands Forum fisheries agency, the Royal Navy said.
It carried out inspections of suspect vessels in ports as well as boardings at sea, the statement said.
A Royal Navy spokesman said it 'looks forward to visiting the Solomon Islands at a later date.'
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