Activities violating China's sovereignty is not allowed in the country's special economic zone, said a lawmaker from the navy Tuesday.

"It is our sovereignty for Chinese vessels to conduct activities in the country's special economic zone, and such activities are justified," Wang Dengping, political commissar of the Armament Department of Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the parliament's annual full session.

He made the remarks while asked to comment on a U.S. naval vessel which conducted activities in China's special economic zone in the South China Sea.

"Innocent passage by naval vessels from other countries in the territorial waters in the special economic zone is acceptable, but not allowed otherwise," he said.

The Pentagon accused that Chinese ships, including a naval vessel, harassed a U.S. naval vessel, the USNS Impeccable, in international waters on Sunday.

In response to the accusation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Tuesday the U.S. vessel had conducted activities in China's special economic zone in the South China Sea without China's permission.

The Chinese sides has lodged a solemn representation to the United States concerning the issue, according to Ma.

Ma said "the U.S. claims are gravely in contravention of the facts and confuse black and white and they are totally unacceptable to China."

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)