China justifies keeping U.S. spy plane, crew due to '200-mile exclusive zone'

BEIJING (AFX) - The government said it has the right to enforce its laws in what it called its exclusive economic zone extending 200 miles from its shores.    Although all nations enjoy the freedom of navigation and overflight in China's exclusive economic zones, they have to abide by international and Chinese laws and regulations, Xinhua news agency said.    "China has the right to take necessary measures ... in order to ensure adherence to Chinese laws and regulations," Xinhua said, citing article 12 of a law on exclusive economic zones passed in 1998.    "China has the right to adopt necessary steps, seek legal responsibilities and exercise the right of hot pursuit," it said.    China has said it cannot yet release the crew of a U.S. surveillance plane which was forced to make an emergency landing on China's southern Hainan island after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter, arguing the crew probably broke Chinese law and that investigations on the details of the collision have to be completed first.		

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