THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Thanksgiving 2007 Aboard USS Kitty Hawk

USS KITTY HAWK, at sea, (Nov. 22, 2007) Sailors from USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in one of five dinning facilities, serving more than 5,000 Sailors aboard the 47 year old carrier. Kitty Hawk operates from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. The squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 operate from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. U.S. Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Gahlau (Released)

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 22, 2007) Capt. Stephen Vissers, executive office aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), helps serve Thanksgiving dinner to the crew in one of five dinning facilities, serving more than 5,000 Sailors aboard the 47 year old carrier. Kitty Hawk operates from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. The squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 operate from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. U.S. Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Gahlau (Released)

News in Balance:

China reversed its position Thursday and said the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk would be allowed to dock in Hong Kong for the Thanksgiving holiday reports UPI.

At a regular Beijing news conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said issues of sovereignty had been involved in reversing the decision, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"Such a decision is ... decided on a case-by-case basis," Liu said.

The carrier and five supporting vessels were originally scheduled to dock Wednesday to give the crew of 8,000 four days shore leave for the holiday.

Liu gave no explanation behind the original refusal to allow the ship in, Xinhua said.

The Kitty Hawk is the Navy's oldest ship in active service. It was commissioned in 1961 and will return to the United States next year to be decommissioned.