A report released by the SOA said that in 2002 China Marine Surveillance (CMS), China's marine supervisory organ carried out surveillance 353 times on foreign ships operating on the bethal cables or doing scientific research.

The CMS also improved its emergency response capabilities within areas under China's jurisdiction and its response to violations of the country's marine rights and interests, said the report.

The report cited the CMS's supervision of the Japanese investigation of a sunken ship within China's exclusive economic zone last year, saying the CMS followed closely the whole nine- month investigation and carried out surveillance in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

To protect marine rights and interests endowed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the CMS had expelled or carried out close surveillance of foreign research or survey ships in Chinese seas without permission, according to the report.

In 2002, the CMS also strengthened inspections of sea area usage and marine environment protection, according to the report.

The report said the CMS carried out 3,258 inspections in the two fields last year, detecting 1,100 violations and issuing 771 administrative punishments.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2003)