‘I want to clarify that on the concept of Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), it is an area of airspace established by coastal state beyond its territorial airspace. So, the question does not arise,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a media briefing.
He was responding to a question whether China has plans to declare ADIZ along the disputed India-China border, similar to a newly-declared zone over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Officials say air defence zones are established for coastal areas beyond the 12 nautical mile-territorial waters but not the land borders which have well-defined airspaces.
However, China apparently is keeping its options open for declaring such a zone over the disputed South China Sea as a Defence Ministry spokesman said, replying to a question whether more such zones will be created. China had earlier declared air defence zone over East China Sea and had asked for flight plans of all airlines flying above the zone. Two Japanese airlines flew their aircrafts over the disputed zone with their South Korean counterparts following suit on Thursday. Not only Japan and South Korea but even US has flown its aircrafts over the area which China has unilaterally declared its air defence zone.
China had on early Thursday rejected South Korea’s demand for repeal of the zone but seems to have softened its demand for providing flight plans by airlines to its military authorities.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said naval ships and patrol planes have been operating in the East China Sea and would continue to do so.
Meanwhile, US defence secy Chuck Hagel calls up Japan defence minister to express solidarity
WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has called up his Japanese counterpart to discuss the security situation following a Chinese decision to establish an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea. During the telephonic conversation with Itsunori Onodera, Hagel on Wednesday said China’s announcement is a ‘potentially destabilising unilateral action’ designed to change the status quo in the region, and raises the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation. According to Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog, Hagel commended the Japanese government for exercising appropriate restraint in the wake of this announcement. ‘Hagel assured Onodera that US military operations will not in any way change as a result of China’s announcement, noting that recent routine and long-planned US flight operations have already occurred as normal following the announcement,’ the Pentagon official said.
He was responding to a question whether China has plans to declare ADIZ along the disputed India-China border, similar to a newly-declared zone over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Officials say air defence zones are established for coastal areas beyond the 12 nautical mile-territorial waters but not the land borders which have well-defined airspaces.
However, China apparently is keeping its options open for declaring such a zone over the disputed South China Sea as a Defence Ministry spokesman said, replying to a question whether more such zones will be created. China had earlier declared air defence zone over East China Sea and had asked for flight plans of all airlines flying above the zone. Two Japanese airlines flew their aircrafts over the disputed zone with their South Korean counterparts following suit on Thursday. Not only Japan and South Korea but even US has flown its aircrafts over the area which China has unilaterally declared its air defence zone.
China had on early Thursday rejected South Korea’s demand for repeal of the zone but seems to have softened its demand for providing flight plans by airlines to its military authorities.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said naval ships and patrol planes have been operating in the East China Sea and would continue to do so.
Meanwhile, US defence secy Chuck Hagel calls up Japan defence minister to express solidarity
WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has called up his Japanese counterpart to discuss the security situation following a Chinese decision to establish an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea. During the telephonic conversation with Itsunori Onodera, Hagel on Wednesday said China’s announcement is a ‘potentially destabilising unilateral action’ designed to change the status quo in the region, and raises the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation. According to Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog, Hagel commended the Japanese government for exercising appropriate restraint in the wake of this announcement. ‘Hagel assured Onodera that US military operations will not in any way change as a result of China’s announcement, noting that recent routine and long-planned US flight operations have already occurred as normal following the announcement,’ the Pentagon official said.