TOKYO: China and Japan raised the temperature in a territorial dispute yesterday with each summoning the other’s ambassador over Beijing’s declaration of an air defence zone, a move Tokyo called “profoundly dangerous.”
The diplomatic scuffle came after Washington said it would stand by Japan in any military clash over the Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims as the Diaoyus, and as Seoul and Taipei voiced their disquiet at China’s weekend announcement.
“I am concerned as it is a profoundly dangerous act that may cause unintended consequences,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. “Japan will ask China to restrain itself while we continue cooperating with the international community.”
Beijing said on Saturday it had established an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) that requires all aircraft flying over an area of the East China Sea to obey its orders. The zone covers the Tokyo-controlled Senkakus, where ships and aircraft from the two countries shadow each other in a potentially dangerous confrontation.
Japan Airlines (JAL) said it was submitting plans to China’s authority about its planes due to pass through the zone. “We have received a (notice to airmen) about the zone. We are submitting flight plans as part of procedures in our daily routine,” it said. All Nippon Airways is following suit.
US Secretary of State John Kerry declared Washington is “deeply concerned,” saying the move raised “risks of an incident.”
“This unilateral action constitutes an attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea,” Kerry said.
Tokyo called in Chinese ambassador to demand a roll-back of the plan which it said would “interfere with freedom of flight over the high seas”, but reportedly received short shrift from Cheng Yonghua, who said Tokyo should retract its “unreasonable demand.”
Cheng’s opposite number in Beijing also got a carpeting in which he was told Japan should not make “irresponsible remarks” about the ADIZ. The area also includes waters claimed by Taiwan and South Korea, and provoked anger in both places.
Taiwan’s opposition called for the scrapping of a visit by a senior Chinese official. Chen Deming is scheduled to fly to Taipei today for his first visit since he was inaugurated in April as president of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. AFP
