Beijing has established an air defense zone, but let U.S., Korean and Japanese aircraft bombers pass without doing anything. The Philippines, Japan and South Korea fear that the area is the first step toward a claim of sovereignty in the aerea .

Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Tensions between Beijing , Washington, Tokyo and Seoul continue to mount after the Chinese established an identification zone for air defense ( Zida ) in the East China Sea .

The Zida , established by the Ministry of Defence in Beijing on November 23 , requires that all aircraft entering the area are identified and follow their directions. If the aircraft do not submit to their directions, the Ministry for Defense will take "defensive measures".

Beijing's air defense zone covers an area disputed with Japan - the famous Senkaku / Diaoyu - and partially overlaps the areas of defense of Taiwan and South Korea

Beijing's unilateral decision was immediately challenged : The U.S. has sent two B52 bombers through the area, without forewarning Beijing , then South Korea sent a military plane on patrol , and Japan ordered its airlines - Ana and Japan Airlines - not to submit to Chinese demands, defying Beijing's instructions.

China has not responded to these challenges, yet. After the flight of the two B52 , the Ministry of Defense said that it was important to have recognized and identified the aircraft .

The countries in the area - South Korea , Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines - fear that the air defense zone is in reality a claim of sovereignty. In the East China Sea , China has long fought with Japan for sovereignty over the Senkaku / Diaoyu , with the Philippines for the Scarborough Shoal . In the South China Sea Beijing claims sovereignty of the Spratly and Paracel Islands , also claimed by Vietnam , Brunei, Philippines , Malaysia and Taiwan.

All these countries use their relations with the United States to contain Chinese expansionism .

 

• japan
• china
• us
• air
• defense
• zone
• sovreignty
• south
• china
• sea