Beijing plans to build its own air defense identification zone over the South China Sea

Almaty. June 2. Silkroadnews – Beijing plans to build its own air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea to cover all the disputed islands controlled by the PRC, TASS reports with reference to the Hong Kong newspaper The South China Morning Post.

The publication notes, the timing of such a zone creation will depend on the security situation in the region. At the same time, a source close to China’s People’s Liberation Army said “if the US military keeps making provocative moves to challenge China’s sovereignty in the region, it will give Beijing a good opportunity to declare an ADIZ in the South China Sea”.

In its turn, the Ministry of Defense of China in its response to the newspaper’s request did not exclude the possibility of creating a special zone, stressing that it is “the right of a sovereign state”.

“Regarding when to declare such a zone, it will depend on whether China is facing security threats from the air, and what the level of the air safety threat is,” the defense ministry stressed.

TASS reminds, China set up ADIZ in the East China Sea in November 2013 to cover the Diaoyu Islands (Senkakus) which, in fact, are under control of Japan. Such a move triggered a backlash from Tokyo, Seoul and Washington.