Tokyo: Japanese government officials said South Korea’s plan to expand its air defence identification zone will not pose a problem.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry announced on Sunday it will expand the zone later this month to partially overlap those of Japan and China.
The move comes after China declared its air defence zone last month.
It includes a submerged rock claimed by both South Korea and China. South Koreans have named it Ieodo.
However, Japanese officials are concerned the expansion could worsen the relationship between South Korea and China, and raise tension in the region.
They say they will watch the developments in close coordination with the United States and other countries.
Meanwhile, China expressed “regret” yesterday that South Korea had extended its air defence zone to partially overlap with a similar zone declared by Beijing two weeks ago that has raised regional tensions.
China’s declaration of an air defence identification zone in the East China Sea 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.
South Korea said that its move to expand its own zone would not infringe on neighbouring countries’ sovereignty.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China had immediately conveyed its concerns to South Korea and requested that Seoul handles the matter “safely and cautiously.”
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