BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday reiterated that a U.S. 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 U.S. State Department and Pentagon accused that Chinese ships, including a naval vessel, "harassed" the USNS Impeccable in international waters on Sunday.

    Ma said "the U.S. 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.

China says U.S. naval ship breaks int'l, Chinese law

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday said that a U.S. navy vessel, which conducted activities in China's special economic zone in the South China Sea, violated the international and Chinese law.     "China has lodged a solemn representation to the United States as the USNS Impeccable conducted activities in China's special economic zone in the South China Sea without China's permission," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular news briefing. Full story

Navy lawmaker: Violation of China's sovereignty not allowed

    BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Activities violating China's sovereignty is not allowed in the country's special economic zone, said a lawmaker from the navy here Tuesday.

    "It is our sovereignty for Chinese vessels to conduct activities in the country's special economic zone, and such activities are justified," Wang Dengping, political commissar of the Armament Department of Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the parliament's annual full session. Full story