China is set to declare an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the disputed South China Sea to counter US military’s “provocative moves” in the strategic waterways, according to a media report.
“If the US military keeps making provocative moves to challenge China’s sovereignty in the region, it will give Beijing a good opportunity to declare an ADIZ in the South China Sea,” Hong Kong-based South
China Morning Post quoted sources in the People’s liberation Army (PlA) as saying. The timing of declaration of the ADIZ would depend on security conditions in the region, particularly the US’ military presence and diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries, it quoted another Chinese official as saying.
The development comes two years after China announced an ADIZ in the East China Sea. ADIZ requires all incoming aircraft, including civilian planes, to register with Chinese authority to fly in the air routes.
The report came ahead of next week’s US-China annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue here on June 6 and 7 in which US Secretary of State John Kerry would take part.
Officially China maintains that it is “the right of a sovereign state” to designate an ADIZ in its waters.