China says activity by US ship illegal

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BEIJING (AP) — China has rejected a United States accusation that a U.S. Navy mapping ship was harassed by Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, saying the American ship was breaking international laws.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday that "the U.S. claim is totally inaccurate and wrong."

He said the ship "broke international and Chinese laws in the South China Sea without China's permission."

The U.S. Defense Department says Chinese ships surrounded and harassed the Navy vessel in international waters Sunday, at one point coming within 25 feet (8 meters) of the American boat and strewing debris in its path.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BEIJING (AP) — China has accused a U.S. Navy mapping ship of conducting illegal activity inside China's exclusive economic zone, a Hong Kong television station reported Monday — Beijing's first response to the latest crisis between the two militaries.

The U.S. Defense Department says Chinese ships surrounded and harassed the Navy vessel in international waters Sunday, at one point coming within 25 feet (8 meters) of the American boat and strewing debris in its path.

However, Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Television cited an unidentified diplomat at the Chinese Embassy in Washington as saying that Beijing considered the ship to be in violation of Chinese and international law and had sent ships to interdict it.