S.Korea joins rash of nations strongly opposing China’s new air-defense zone

Islamabad – South Korea has reportedly expressed dissent over China’s new air-defense identification zone over the East China Sea that has concerned Japan and the US and raised regional tensions.

Vice Defence Minister Baek Seung-Joo expressed Seoul’s ‘strong regret’ at China’s unilateral announcement of the zone over an area that includes a South Korean-controlled rock and Tokyo-administered islands.

Defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said that China’s latest move was heightening military tension in the region, Dawn reports.

According to the report, Japan, South Korea and the United States have rejected China’s demand that all aircraft traversing the new zone file flight plans and identification details.

However, military planes of the US, Japan and South Korea have flown through the area without complying, after the rules were announced and were not opposed as China has threatened of ‘defensive emergency measures’ against any aircraft that flouts the rules.

Baek stressed that Seoul could not recognise the zone and demanded that China revise its parameters, particularly a section that overlaps with South Korea’s own Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Kim further said that the South Korean side would have to consider expanding its own ADIZ to protect its national interests, the report added.