Air defense ID zone to deter those with designs on China's territory

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Air defense ID zone to deter those with designs on China's territory

(People's Daily Online) 10:00, November 26, 2013

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China issued a statement on the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone last Saturday. The measure is in accordance with Chinese law and international practice, intended to safeguard China's sovereignty and territory, and maintain the order of flights in the area. It is also a necessary move for China to effectively exercise the right to self-defense.

Building an air defense identification zone is nothing new. It has long been an international convention. In the 1950s, the United States and Canada first established air defense identification zones, and later more than 20 other countries and regions followed suit. Furthermore, some countries have established airborne early warning mechanisms.

An air defense identification zone is a defensive area of airspace established by a coastal state beyond its territorial airspace. It does not affect normal flights and access to airspace, or pose any threat to neighboring countries. It is used to assess in advance any unidentified aircraft entering the zone and therefore allow timely reaction to any potential threat. If a country does not begin to react until unidentified aircraft over the sea approach its airspace and pose an aerial threat, then it is very difficult to acquire the necessary information and take effective measures to respond rapidly to any emergency situation. Such a situation could pose a serious threat to national air security.

The airspace over the East China Sea is an important area, used intensively by international routes. The Air Defense Identification Zone is neither an expansion of the scope of airspace, nor an extension of airspace sovereignty. It is not directed against any specific country or target. The rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone Any apply equally to any aircraft from any country.

However, some countries, notably Japan and the USA, have overreacted to the announcement of the zone. Ignoring the fact that both countries themselves have long-established zones - indeed Japan established such a zone in an adjacent sea area several years ago - they have used the situation as a pretext for arbitrary attacks against China, including alarmist warnings that China's move is a “destabilizing attempt to alter the status quo in the region”.

The international community, including most neighboring countries, has shown recognition and understanding of the rationale behind the zone. Why has it been criticized by the above-mentioned countries?

The reason is that China's armed forces will now have the right to adopt emergency defensive measure against aircraft that do not cooperate in identification or refuse to follow instructions. This has undoubtedly touched sensitive nerves and represents a blow against any designs on China's territory.

The East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone will be used to better safeguard flight order and security, avoid the risk of errors in judgment, and reduce friction. Within the airspace identification zone, aircraft are required to notify nationality, position and flight plans in order to allow identification, monitoring, and response. Freedom of flight in accordance with international laws is not affected, therefore the zone will not affect any normal flight. However, this will not apply to provocative flyover and surveillance activities.

China has always pursued a defensive national defense policy, committing to the path of peaceful development, but this should not be taken to mean that it will ever abandon its legitimate rights and interests. No other country should make any strategic misjudgment on issues concerning China's core interests, or its determination to protect its territory and national security.

Edited and translated by Liang Jun

The authors are Meng Yan and Zhou Yong from the Ministry of National Defense.