China accuses US ship of illegal activity

China today rejected a United States accusation that a US Navy mapping ship was harassed by Chinese vessels, saying the US ship was breaking international laws.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said “the US 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 US Defense Department said Chinese ships surrounded and harassed the Navy vessel in international waters on Sunday, at one point coming within 25ft of the American boat.