Chi urges US not to undermine mutual trust

Beijing, Jan 31: Chi urged the US to respect and abide by its laws, and not to undermine the mutual trust and regiol peace and stability. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Saturday made the remarks as reports said a US vy guided-missile destroyer sailed within 12 utical miles of Zhongjian Dao, Xisha Islands, Xinhua reported. According to Chi’s law on the territorial sea and contiguous zone ected in 1992, foreign warships entering Chi’s territorial waters must be approved by the Chinese government. “The US warship violated Chinese law and entered the country’s territorial sea without authorisation. The Chinese side conducted surveillance and vocal warnings to the US warship,” Hua said. Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun also said the US act severely violated Chinese law, sabotaged the peace, security and good order of the waters, and undermined the region’s peace and stability. The Defence Ministry is firmly against this, he said. Yang said Chi’s law on the territorial sea and contiguous zone accords with the intertiol law and practice, and that many other countries have similar laws.

The Chinese government also issued a statement on territorial sea baseline on May 15, 1996, which announced part of the baseline of the territorial sea adjacent to Chi’s mainland and the baseline of the territorial sea adjacent to the Xisha Islands. “The US side is fully aware of this, yet it still sent its warship into Chi’s territorial sea without authorisation. It is a deliberate provocation,” Yang said. (IANS)