Text Fwd: Russia, China concerned over tensions on Korean Peninsula

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http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13664206&PageNum=0
Russia, China concerned over tensions on Korean Peninsula
11.03.2009, 11.17

MOSCOW, March 11 (Itar-Tass) - Russian and Chinese foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and Yang Jiechi have expressed concern over tensions on the Korean Peninsula and called on all sides to refrain from actions that may disrupt security in the region.

“Having discussed the situation in the North Eastern Asia they expressed concern over tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” the foreign ministry said after the telephone conversation between the two diplomats on Wednesday.

“Lavrov and Jiechi called on all sides to show restraint and composure and refrain from actions that may disrupt stability and security in the region,” the ministry said.

“Russia and China call for all disputed issues to be resolved exclusively by peaceful, political and diplomatic means, through consultations and negotiations,” the source said.

The parties also “discussed the schedule of Russian-Chinese contacts and some other topical issues on the international agenda.”



http://en.rian.ru/world/20090311/120509039.html
China protests over U.S. Navy activities
11:13 | 11/ 03/ 2009

BEIJING, March 11 (RIA Novosti) - China has lodged an official protest against the U.S. Navy over unauthorized activities in China's exclusive maritime economic zone, the China Daily reported on Wednesday.

The U.S. has also protested over the weekend incident in the South China Sea, saying Chinese ships engaged in dangerous maneuvers when shadowing a U.S. vessel. (VIDEO)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters that U.S. vessels, including the USNS Impeccable, conducted illegal surveys on Sunday, 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) to the south of China's Hainan Island.

"China has lodged a protest to the United States, as the USNS Impeccable conducted the activities ... without China's permission," Ma said.

The U.S. Navy insists its actions were in line with international maritime law.

Vice-Admiral Jin Mao, former vice-commander of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) navy told the China Daily that the U.S. ship was "not a research vessel, but a spy ship."

The Impeccable, which serves with the U.S. 7th Fleet, uses low-frequency sonar to search for undersea threats including submarines.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is currently in Washington to discuss preparations for the London G20 summit set for April 1to address the financial crisis. Yang is working on plans for a meeting between President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack Obama during the summit.

The naval incident may be discussed by Yang and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the Chinese diplomat's visit.