Q: On March 9, the US White House, the State Department and the Pentagon said that relevant Chinese ships “harassed” a US Navy Surveillance vessel, the Impeccable, in international waters in South China Sea. Do you have any comment?

A: The story of the US side is totally untrue and unacceptable. When it comes to foreign vessels acting in China’s exclusive economic zones, there are clear provisions in the United Nations 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 Chinese Government always deals with such issues in strict accordance with the above laws and regulations. The US Navy Surveillance Vessel, the Impeccable, in disregard of relevant international laws and Chinese laws and regulations, engaged in activities in China’s exclusive economic zones without our permission. China has lodged solemn representations to the US side. We urge the US side to take effective measure to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.