China’s airspace action angers Japan

China has angered its neighbour Japan with the creation of an “air defence identification zone” covering the skies over a group of uninhabited islands at the centre of a fractious squabble between Beijing and Tokyo.

Beijing published co-ordinates for the zone over the weekend, saying it was an early warning defence system. It covers most of the East China Sea, including a tiny archipelago known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, and is clearly aimed at undermining Japanese administrative control of the islands.

Beijing is involved in bilateral disputes with nearly all of its maritime neighbours over islands in the South China Sea and East China Sea, but one of the most tense is the standoff with Japan. After simmering for decades, it flared up in September 2012 when Tokyo nationalised three of the islands.

Critical
Both Tokyo and its close ally, Washington, criticised the creation of the air defence zone, saying they raised the risk of potential conflict in a region where there have already been tense encounters between Chinese and Japanese ships and aircraft.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe described the move as a “profoundly dangerous act”.“Japan will ask China to restrain itself while we continue co-operating with the international community,” he told parliament.

Meanwhile, US secretary of state John Kerry said: “This unilateral action constitutes an attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea. Escalatory action will only increase tensions in the region and create risks of an incident.”

The Chinese summoned the US and Japanese ambassadors in Beijing to complain about the statements. Defence spokesman Yang Yujun said China was exercising its right to self defence.

'Choose sides'
"We strongly require the Japanese side to stop all moves that undermine China's territorial sovereignty as well as irresponsible remarks that misguide international opinions and create regional tensions," Yang told the Xinhua news agency.

“The current situation over the Diaoyu islands was completely caused by the wrong words and deeds of the Japanese side,” he said, adding that the United States “should not choose sides” over the issue and “make no more inappropriate remarks or send wrong signals that may lead to a risky move by Japan”.

Under the new rules aircraft are expected to provide their flight plan, clearly mark their nationality, and maintain two-way radio communication allowing them to “respond in a timely and accurate manner” to identification inquiries from Chinese authorities, the defence ministry said.

Asian airlines have indicated that they will notify China’s civil aviation authorities of their flight plans although they said they would not be required to adjust their flight paths because of the new zone.

Chinese aviation officials insisted the new zone would not affect flight freedom.