China has established an air-defence identification zone over disputed waters in the East China Sea. The zone came into effect on Saturday (November 23).
The zone covers the islands known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu. The islands are claimed by both countries but are currently under Japanese administrative control.
Beijing requires any noncommercial aircraft to clearly display their nationalities and to submit flight plans to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China or the Civil Aviation Administration of China. It also requires the aircraft to maintain radio communications with Chinese authorities and to keep their radar transponders turned on when flying in the zone.
According to an announcement published by China's state-run media outlet Xinhua, Beijing will take "defensive emergency measures" against aircraft that do not follow the new rules when entering the zone.
Reuters reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the move was unacceptable and could lead to an "unforeseen situation". U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reportedly called Beijing's move a "destabilizing attempt to alter the status quo in the region."
