China yesterday reiterated its determination to protect its territory in the South China Sea, and urged all parties concerned to work together to avoid escalating tensions.

"We call on all claimants of disputed islands to refrain from taking any action that could heighten tensions, and abide by international conventions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said during a regular briefing.

China has demonstrated a clear stand and principles in South China Sea issues, as reflected in its reaction to the USNS Impeccable spy ship incident, he added.

Qin made the remarks in response to a series of disputes in the South China Sea this month, with the Malaysian and the Filipino governments claiming sovereignty over some disputed islands and a US surveillance vessel intruding into China's exclusive economic zone.

Adding to the tension, a US survey vessel is to arrive in the South China Sea next week "to conduct a sea floor survey", the South China Morning Post has reported.

The planned "geological survey" will be conducted within 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) off Hainan Island – well inside China's exclusive economic zone – without permission from Beijing, the report said.

"The US survey ship is risking another confrontation in a flashpoint region, less than a month after a standoff between six Chinese patrol vessels and the Impeccable," Professor Yuan Peng of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations said.

"The US is making this move at a particularly sensitive time, amid other complications in the South China Sea," Yuan said.

(China Daily March 25, 2009)