China lodges representation as US naval ship breaks laws

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-11 11:41

BEIJING -- China on Wednesday reiterated that a US navy vessel, which conducted activities in China's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, violated the international and Chinese laws.

"China has lodged a solemn representation to the United States as the USNS Impeccable conducted activities in China's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea without China's permission," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"We demand that the United States take effective measures to prevent similar acts from happening," Ma said.

Ma's comments came after the White House, the US State Department and Pentagon accused that Chinese ships, including a naval vessel, "harassed" the USNS Impeccable in international waters on Sunday.

Ma said "the US claims are gravely in contravention of the facts and unacceptable to China."

He added that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf of the People's Republic of China, and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Management of Foreign-related Marine Scientific Research, have clear regulations on foreign vessels' activities in China's exclusive economic zones.

"The Chinese government always handles such activities strictly in accordance with these laws and regulations," Ma said.