China says activity by US ship illegal

BEIJING — 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.