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China hits out at US on navy row China hits out at US on navy row
(about 1 hour later)
China says a US Navy ship involved in a confrontation with its vessels off the southern island of Hainan violated international law. China says a US Navy ship involved in Sunday's confrontation with its vessels off the southern island of Hainan violated international and Chinese law.
Foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said US complaints that five Chinese vessels had harassed the USNS Impeccable were "totally inaccurate".Foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said US complaints that five Chinese vessels had harassed the USNS Impeccable were "totally inaccurate".
China had asked the US to stop these activities immediately, he said. Beijing says the ship was conducting activities within the waters of its special economic zone.
The US has complained to China's military attache at the Pentagon over the incident, which happened on Sunday. The US earlier complained to China's military attache over the incident.
The US said the Chinese ships manoeuvred dangerously close to an unarmed US navy surveillance vessel while it was on routine operations in international waters 75 miles (120km) south of Hainan island. It said the Chinese ships manoeuvred dangerously close to an unarmed US navy surveillance vessel while it was on routine operations in international waters 75 miles (120km) south of Hainan island.
The ships "aggressively manoeuvred" around the Impeccable "in an apparent co-ordinated effort to harass the US ocean surveillance ship", a Pentagon statement said.The ships "aggressively manoeuvred" around the Impeccable "in an apparent co-ordinated effort to harass the US ocean surveillance ship", a Pentagon statement said.
The Pentagon identified the Chinese boats as a naval intelligence-gathering ship, a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel, and two small trawlers.The Pentagon identified the Chinese boats as a naval intelligence-gathering ship, a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel, and two small trawlers.
Sunday's incident followed days of "increasingly aggressive" acts by Chinese ships, US officials said.Sunday's incident followed days of "increasingly aggressive" acts by Chinese ships, US officials said.
'Confusing black and white'
China called the US complaints unacceptable.China called the US complaints unacceptable.
"The US claims are gravely in contravention of the facts and confuse black and white," Mr Ma said. "The US Navy ship Impeccable broke international law and Chinese laws and regulations," Mr Ma said.
The Impeccable is designed specifically to detect underwater threats such as submarines for the US navy. "The US claims are gravely in contravention of the facts and confuse black and white," he added.
China views most of the South China Sea as its territory - but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claim to islands there.
Under international law, Chinese territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (22 km) off its coast and its Exclusive Economic Zones extends 200 nautical miles.
China says that any intelligence data gathering by foreign governments within its exclusive economic zone is illegal - but the US says this only relates to undersea exploitation of resources.
The Impeccable is used to map the ocean floor with sonar. The information is used by the US navy to steer its own submarines or track those of other nations.
There is a large Chinese submarine base on Hainan island.
Aggressive manoeuvring by ships of rival navies in sensitive international waters is not uncommon, correspondents say.Aggressive manoeuvring by ships of rival navies in sensitive international waters is not uncommon, correspondents say.
But Washington was sufficiently disturbed by the incident involving the Impeccable to make its concerns public.But Washington was sufficiently disturbed by the incident involving the Impeccable to make its concerns public.