China urges US to phase out EEZ surveillance

China has asked the United States to scale down and eventually cease its maritime surveillance and survey activities within China's claimed exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to a report on the People's Liberation Army-sponsored chinamil.com website.

A statement attributed to the People's Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the request – which was issued on 26-27 August during bilateral talks on maritime safety – was intended to reduce the risk of "naval confrontations" between the two countries.

There were a number of incidents involving Chinese and US vessels in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea earlier in 2009 as the US exercised what it regards as its rights of passage under international maritime law.

In March, Beijing accused a US Military Sealift Command underwater surveillance ship, USNS Impeccable , of violating international laws by bottom-mapping in the South China Sea. Five Chinese vessels intervened and forced Impeccable to stop, according to the US Department of Defense. The incident took place around 75 miles off Hainan Island, where China - which claims a 125-mile EEZ - has built an underground nuclear submarine base.