S Korea expands its air defence zone, encroaches into China’s
10 Dec 2013 5:04 AM IST
South Korea said on Sunday it has extended its air defence zone to partially overlap with a similar zone declared by China two weeks ago that has sharply raised regional tensions.
Beijing’s declaration of an air defence identification zone in an area that includes islands at the heart of a territorial dispute with Japan has triggered protests from the United States and its close allies Japan and South Korea.
Announcing the expansion of its own zone to include two territorial islands to the south and a submerged rock also claimed by China, South Korea’s Defence Ministry said the move would not infringe on neighbouring countries’ sovereignty.
‘We believe this will not significantly impact our relationships with China and with Japan as we try to work for peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia,’ defence ministry head of policy Jang Hyuk told a briefing.
‘We have explained our position to related countries and overall they are in agreement that this move complies with international regulations and is not an excessive measure,’ he said, adding the ministry’s top priority was to work with neighbouring countries to prevent military confrontation.
South Korea had objected to China’s 23 November move as unacceptable because its new zone includes a maritime rock named Ieodo, which Seoul controls, with a research station platform built atop it.
Beijing’s declaration of an air defence identification zone in an area that includes islands at the heart of a territorial dispute with Japan has triggered protests from the United States and its close allies Japan and South Korea.
Announcing the expansion of its own zone to include two territorial islands to the south and a submerged rock also claimed by China, South Korea’s Defence Ministry said the move would not infringe on neighbouring countries’ sovereignty.
‘We believe this will not significantly impact our relationships with China and with Japan as we try to work for peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia,’ defence ministry head of policy Jang Hyuk told a briefing.
‘We have explained our position to related countries and overall they are in agreement that this move complies with international regulations and is not an excessive measure,’ he said, adding the ministry’s top priority was to work with neighbouring countries to prevent military confrontation.
South Korea had objected to China’s 23 November move as unacceptable because its new zone includes a maritime rock named Ieodo, which Seoul controls, with a research station platform built atop it.
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