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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| China hits out at US on navy row | China hits out at US on navy row |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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". |
| Beijing says the ship was conducting activities within the waters of its exclusive economic zone. | |
| The US earlier complained to China's military attache over the incident. | The US earlier complained to China's military attache over the incident. |
| 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. | 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. See map showing rival claims in the South China Sea | The ships "aggressively manoeuvred" around the Impeccable "in an apparent co-ordinated effort to harass the US ocean surveillance ship", a Pentagon statement said. See map showing rival claims in the South China Sea |
| 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' | 'Confusing black and white' |
| China called the US complaints unacceptable. SOUTH CHINA SEA TENSIONS Territorial claims from China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia overlap in resource-rich seaHosts some of the world's busiest shipping lanesChina says the US was in its Exclusive Economic Zone - but the two sides disagree on what activities are allowed in an EEZ | China called the US complaints unacceptable. SOUTH CHINA SEA TENSIONS Territorial claims from China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia overlap in resource-rich seaHosts some of the world's busiest shipping lanesChina says the US was in its Exclusive Economic Zone - but the two sides disagree on what activities are allowed in an EEZ |
| "The US Navy ship Impeccable broke international law and Chinese laws and regulations," Mr Ma said. | "The US Navy ship Impeccable broke international law and Chinese laws and regulations," Mr Ma said. |
| "The US claims are gravely in contravention of the facts and confuse black and white," he added. | "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. | 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 (22km) off its coast and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends 200 nautical miles. | Under international law, Chinese territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (22km) off its coast and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends 200 nautical miles. |
| China says that any intelligence data gathering by foreign governments within its EEZ is illegal - but the US does not agree with this. | China says that any intelligence data gathering by foreign governments within its EEZ is illegal - but the US does not agree with this. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
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