Washington does not accept China air defense zone

The United States has reaffirmed that it does not recognize China’s new Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea, saying the move is “provocative.”

“We, the United States, do not recognize and we do not accept it, and will not change the way the United States conducts military operations in the region,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Thursday.

On November 23, Beijing established the Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea, saying all military and commercial aircraft should inform the Chinese government before entering the region.

The move was criticized by Washington and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

After the declaration, American, Japanese and South Korean military planes have breached the zone without informing China.

China warned that aircraft that do not comply could be subject to a military response.

“We call on China not to implement it… I think that’s pretty clear about what our policy is. We do not recognize it,” Carney said.

However, China urged the United States to respect its declaration.

Washington “ought to take an objective and fair attitude and respect” China’s move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a Thursday statement.

The remark was made one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting US Vice President Joe Biden.