Senkaku/Diaoyu issue: Japan to remain vigilant after China air force drill

Tokyo stressed Monday that it will remain vigilant and "watch closely" activities by Beijing’s military after Chinese fighter jets flew through a strait between Japanese islands in southern Okinawa prefecture.

China, Japan fighter jets clash over disputed islands : Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

Chinese and Japanese fighter jets had a close encounter over the disputed waters in the East China Sea last month as two planes from each side came face to face several times and locked radars to fire weapons, China's military said on Tuesday.

China expresses regret over S. Korea’s move. -Extension of its air defense identification zone

By CCTV reporter Tang Bo
South Korea announced an extension of its air defense identification zone on Sunday. The zone encompasses submerged rocks within the overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of China and South Korea. China responded on Monday saying it was willing to maintain communications with South Korea on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
The South Korean Defense Ministry on Sunday announced a southward expansion of its Air Defense Identification Zone. The new zone’s eastern and western boundaries remain the same as before. It will take effect on December the 15th, with a seven day preparation period.

U.S. urges China to set up hotline with Japan, S Korea. -State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf

WASHINGTON —

The United States urged China Friday to set up an emergency hotline with Japan and South Korea to avoid confusion in its newly-declared airspace.
Washington does not recognize Beijing’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), which extends over the East China Sea and islands disputed with Japan [Senkaku/Diaoyu], and has called on China not to press ahead with its implementation.
“As we work through this process, they need to do a few things right now to immediately lower tensions,” deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

Spokesman: China and Republic of Korea (ROK) communicate over ADIZ

BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- China has maintained communication with the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the East China Sea air defense identification zone (ADIZ), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Friday.

"We are ready to maintain communication with the ROK side under the condition of equality and mutual respect," Hong said at a regular press briefing.

When asked to comment on ROK's attempt to expand its air defense identification zone, Hong said the ROK's move should be in line with its national laws and international norms.

Biden gets sharp rebuke in China. -Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

One day after he spoke with leaders in embattled neighbor Japan, Vice President Joe Biden met with officials in China on Wednesday amid an escalating argument between Asian nations that has attracted the attention of the United States.
A meeting between Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping scheduled for only 45 minutes this week turned into a two hour ordeal and ended with the US senator-turned-second-in-command offering brief remarks but answering no questions before a press scrum in Beijing.
Speaking with reporters amid a stalemate that started late last month between China and Japan over disputed airspace, Biden made no explicit reference to the conflict but expressed a need for trust to develop between all those involved.

Chinese Foreign Ministry: Japan trying to stir up trouble

Japan says it will raise the issue of China’s Air Defense Identification Zone during the Japan-ASEAN special summit, which will be held in December in Tokyo. 

It plans to ask ASEAN countries to take the same stance as Japan does. China’s Foreign Ministry has responded to the news.

Japan MoD: China should heed international reaction on air defence zone. -Not confirmed the information that Beijing had sent air fighters in response to Japanese and American aircrafts

China should take into account the reaction of the international community on its Air Defence Identification Zone in the East China Sea, said Japanese Defence Minister, Itsunori Onodera on Saturday at a press conference.

He also reiterated that Japan's defense ministry did not confirm the information that Beijing had sent air fighters in response to Japanese and American aircrafts flying through the new air-defence zone claimed by China. "According to the information we have, such a situation did not happen," - said Onodera.

China to conduct regular air patrols in ADIZ (video)

The Chinese air force says it will conduct regular air patrols in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.

Air force spokesman Shen Jinke says combat aircraft will carry out patrols to strengthen monitoring of the defense zone. 

He says the patrols are a defensive measure and are in line with common international practice.

Japanese military planes defy China's new air zone (video cctv). -PLA (People’s Liberation Army) pledges to defend East China Sea

Japanese military aircraft have defied China’s new Air Defense Identification Zone, and flown into the zone without informing China.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the planes, which flew into the zone on Thursday, were carrying out routine surveillance missions.

Chinese FM: China capable of managing air zone

Two U.S. military aircraft have flown around the Diaoyu islands without informing China, in defiance of the new air defense identification zone. The Chinese Foreign Ministry was asked about the case during a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

"The establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone is a proper execution of China’s self-defense right. We have informed relevant countries before making the announcement," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

Chinese Defense Ministry: US jets' flight monitored.(video cctv) -Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

China's Ministry of National Defense says it had monitored the path of the two US jets that entered its air defense identification zone Tuesday noon, and that it was able to identified the model of the aircraft.

A ministry spokesman reiterated that China has effective control over the airspace and will monitor any aircraft that enters it.

Two US military flew around the Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea without identifying themselves and their flight path, defying China's rules for the newly declared zone.

Pentagon/USA: Flights over Senkaku Islands were unrelated to dispute between Japan and China. -Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

The US military flew two aircraft over islands in the East China Sea under dispute between Japan and China, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Crosson, a Pentagon spokesman, said the planes were not armed and had an "uneventful flight" during the long-planned missions, which occurred early Tuesday.

Crosson said the flights over the Senkaku Islands were unrelated to the dispute between Japan and China. China on Saturday declared an air defence zone in the East China Sea, the latest in a series of incidents in its escalating dispute with Japan over the islands.

China refutes Japan's protest at ADIZ over East China Sea. -More than 20 countries, including Japan, have set up air defense identification zones

TOKYO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China refuted Japan's protest on Monday over China's newly established Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea, demanding Japan stop irresponsible words on the issue.
In Tokyo, Chinese ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua rejected protest lodged by Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki, saying the setup of ADIZ is a normal move in the world and accords with international laws and practices.
He said the ADIZ will not affect the freedom of flight over the East China Sea, and urged Japan to stop irresponsible and groundless entanglement.
In Beijing, Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang lodged representation with Japanese ambassador to China Kitera Masato over Tokyo's response to China's establishment of ADIZ on Saturday.
Zheng said that the ADIZ aims to defend China's national sovereignty and its territorial and airspace security, as well as safeguard the flight order over the East China Sea, stressing it conforms to the UN charter.

China rejects Japan's protest over Air Defense Zone. -Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

Minister at the Chinese Embassy in Japan Han Zhiqiang has rejected Japan’s protest over China's declaration of an air defense identification zone in East China Sea.

He said that the Diaoyu Islands are China’s inherent territory, and its air space belongs to China. The diplomat said Japan doesn’t have the right to intervene and China’s move conforms to international laws and practices.

Han Zhiqiang said the purpose of the move is to protect national sovereignty and safety of China’s land and air. He said the move does not target any country.

Japan protests new China air defense zone

TOKYO —

Japan on Saturday lodged a strong protest with China after Beijing announced it was setting up an “air defense identification zone” over the East China Sea that includes disputed islands, the foreign ministry said.
Junichi Ihara, who heads the Japanese foreign ministry’s Asian and Oceanian affairs bureau, made the protest by phone to Han Zhiqiang, minister at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, the ministry said in a statement.
He said Japan could “never accept the zone set up by China” as it includes the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands, the statement said.

China also claims the islands, calling them Diaoyu.

PLA Air Force conducts first patrol in air defense identification zone.

BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted its first air patrol after the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.

Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force, said that two large scouts carried out the patrol mission, with early warning aircraft and fighters providing support and cover.

"The patrol is in line with international common practices, and the normal flight of international flights will not be affected," Shen said.

Shen said that the Chinese armed forces are capable of effective control over the zone, and will take measures to deal with air threats to protect the security of the country's airspace.

China outlines East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. -Senkaku/Diaoyu issue

The new rules state that all aircraft flying in the zone should report their flight plans to China’s Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Administration.

If an aircraft doesn’t supply its flight plan, China’s armed forces will adopt emergency defensive measures in response.

The announcement states that China’s Ministry of National Defense has full administrative rights over the zone.

The National Defense Ministry has included a precise demarcation of the Air Defense Identification Zone. For the latest information on the announcement, please log onto the ministry’s official website.