China announces air defence zone over disputed islands
Play
Beijing (dpa) - China announced the establishment of an air defence zone in the East China Sea on Saturday, the latest in a series of incidents in its escalating dispute with Japan over a group of islands.
State media published new aircraft identification rules for areas including the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, claimed by China and Taiwan and known to them as Diaoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively.
The move followed unconfirmed reports on Friday that Japan was doubling the number of its refuelling planes to enable aircraft to remain in the air longer over the unoccupied islets.
Japan would double its fleet to at least eight planes and also expand the use of high-speed warships, the Tokyo-based Yomiuri newspaper reported.
Chinese state media confirmed on Saturday that four coast guard vessels patrolled the islands on Friday, the 71st such maneuver since Japan bought three of the five main uninhabited islets from a private owner in September 2012.
In response to the purchase, the ruling Communist Party permitted mass anti-Japanese protests in several cities and state television has given heavy coverage to the dispute over the islands.
On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was "deeply concerned" by China's announcement of the defence zone.
