China reversed a decision on Thursday to block a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group from visiting Hong Kong, but the change of heart by Beijing officials came too late to stop the U.S. naval flotilla from returning to its forward base in Japan. The flotilla – the Kitty Hawk and its five support ships – were en route back to their base at Yokosuka and were not planning to turn around for Hong Kong, said a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, Lieutenant Commander John Filostrat. Full Story