Beijing: On the eve of US Vice President Joe Biden's visit, China hardened its stance on the implementation of its new air defence zone over the disputed islands in the East China Sea saying its military has “unwavering” will to enforce it.
“Some people doubt China's monitoring capabilities in the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ),” a Chinese Defence Ministry statement said. “The Chinese military's determination and volition to safeguard the security of national territory and territorial airspace are unwavering, and the military is fully capable of exercising effective control over it.”
The US, Japan and South Korean defence planes have been flying through the Chinese ADIZ virtually challenging it, while most of the US and other international civilian airlines have conveyed their flight plans to the Chinese government as demanded by Beijing.
Biden, who held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo today, said: “We, the US, are deeply concerned by the attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea.
“This action has raised regional tensions and increased the risk of accidents and miscalculation. We are closely consulting with our allies on this matter here in Japan and in Korea which I will soon visit, later this week.”
He is due to arrive here tomorrow on a two-day visit and scheduled to hold talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on the issue besides other topics concerning bilateral relations.
The strongly worded Chinese defence ministry statement said “a very few countries must earnestly reflect on their actions and correct their wrong remarks and wrongdoings”.
“Other parties concerned should also mind their words and actions, and should not do things to undermine regional stability and bilateral relations,” it said. Without directly naming the US it said: “Other parties should not be incited, or send wrong signals to make a very few countries go further on the wrong track, which will follow the same old disastrous road and undermine regional and world peace.”
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