China declares "air-defence zone" over East China Sea
(Vatican Radio) China has declared an air-defence zone over much of the East China
Sea, and is demanding that foreign aircraft observe new rules requiring them to report
to Chinese authorities, even when flying over islands held by Japan.
In a
statement, China declared much of the sea between itself, Japan and South Korea an
"air-defence identification zone", saying the zone would strengthen its national security.
It
said aircraft in the zone that fail to report to Chinese authorities may meet military
consequences, although it stopped short of saying it would shoot them down. China
said all aircraft must obey, apart from civilian airliners.
Nations such as
Japan, South Korea and the United States currently use the East China Sea for military
flights. China released a map showing the zone reaches close to Japan and South Korea,
and also covers a group of islands controlled by Japan.
The Japanese government
has responded saying that the move "escalates" tensions there. So far, the territorial
standoff in the region has played out mostly between ocean patrol ships, but now,
analysts say, it may extend into airspace too.
China's government has said
it is acting within international law by imposing the zone, noting that many other
nations worldwide maintain similar air-defence identification zones.