China's Defense Ministry Wednesday urged the United States to prevent reoccurrences similar to that of a U.S. navy vessel conducting activities in China's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

"We urge the United States to respect our legal interests and security concern," said ministry spokesman Huang Xueping here on Wednesday.

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

Huang said "China cannot accept the U.S. groundless accusations."

He said the U.S. navy vessel, which conducted illegal surveying activities in China's exclusive economic zone without China's permission, violated international and Chinese laws.

"China has lodged a solemn representation to the United States," Huang noted.

He added that the ship violated related regulations of 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.

The sea area where the U.S. ship conducted illegal activities was China's exclusive economic zone, and the United States should abide by the above laws, Huang said.

"China conducts normal activities of law enforcement in its own exclusive economic zone to defend its rights and interests, and such activities are justified and lawful," he noted.

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

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu also gave comments on this issue, saying that "the U.S. claims are gravely in contravention of the facts."

The above-mentioned international and Chinese laws have clear regulations on foreign vessels' activities in China's exclusive economic zones, and the Chinese government always handles such activities strictly in accordance with these laws and regulations, Ma said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2009)