US calls on China to rescind air defence zone to avoid Japan confrontation
• Request made hours after US vice-president arrives in Tokyo
• State Department warns of dangerous clash with allies
theguardian.com, Monday 2 December 2013
The US called on China to scrap its newly declared air defence identification zone on Monday, warning that Beijing risked a potentially dangerous confrontation with Japan and its allies at the start of a trip to the region by vice-president Joe Biden.
The explicit request for China to “rescind” threats against unannounced aircraft passing over a chain of islands in the East China sea was made by the US just hours after Biden landed in Tokyo ahead of a six-day trip to Japan, China and South Korea.
“The fact that China’s announcement has caused confusion and increased the risk of accidents only further underscores the validity of concerns and the need for China to rescind the procedures,” said Jen Psaki, the chief spokesperson for the State Department.
Biden, who was met at Tokyo airport by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former president John F Kennedy and recently appointed ambassador to Japan, is expected to attempt to defuse the controversy during his visit.
Senior diplomats privately concede that the dispute over the airspace above the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, will almost entirely dominate Biden’s trip, which had been intended to focus on US economic interests in the region. The row began nine days ago when Beijing unilaterally declared the enlarged air defence identification zone.
The Chinese defence ministry ordered all aircraft flying through the zone to notify Chinese authorities in advance, warning that it would "identify, monitor, control and react to" any air threats or unidentified flying objects coming from the sea.
“That kind of coercive, strong language is worrisome, and we hope it is not tested,” a senior government official from the region told the Guardian, echoing growing concern about the possible risk of an accidental confrontation that spirals out of control.
The official said one possible scenario would see military aircraft scrambled simultaneously by China and the US, and possibly Japan too, meeting in the air. Another would be that China feels the need to intercept an aircraft that enters the contested airspace without prior notice.
“Mishaps and miscalculations can happen, particularly if aircraft are scrambled to intercept an aircraft. You never know how these situations can unfold.”
Japanese airlines passing through the military zone declared by China are not currently informing Beijing of their flight plans. However, aircraft associated with other countries, including those flown by US and South Korean airlines, are submitting information to the Chinese, after domestic civil aviation authorities advised it was in the interest of safety.
Psaki stressed that the guidance to airlines from the Federal Aviation Authority “in no way indicates” US acceptance of China’s declaration. She said China had made the declaration “in an uncoordinated fashion” which was “inconsistent with standard practice”, adding the US did not believe the declaration to be legitimate.
Her remarks were echoed by the White House. "This is about the safety and security of passengers and is not, in any way, indication of a change in our position,” said spokesman Jay Carney. “This appears to be a provocative attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the the East China sea and thus raises tensions and increases the risk of inadvertent confrontation.” Read more on TheGuardian
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