A group of US senators say China’s decision to declare the Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea is �œpotentially dangerous.”
In a letter to China’s ambassador to Washington, four American senators accused China of �œdisturbing trend of increasingly hostile” actions in the Pacific.
On November 23, Beijing established the ADIZ over the East China Sea, saying all military and commercial aircraft should inform the Chinese government before entering the region.
The declaration has made a �œmisunderstanding or miscalculation” more likely while reinforcing �œthe perception that China prefers coercion over rule of law mechanisms to address territorial, sovereignty and jurisdictional issues in the Asia-Pacific,” the senators wrote.
The US senators also urged China �œnot to implement this ADIZ as announced, and to refrain from taking similar provocative actions elsewhere in the region.”
�œThere is nothing for China to gain by undermining regional stability and threatening the peace and prosperity [of the region],” according to the letter published by The Hill.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, ranking member Bob Corker and members Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin signed the letter.
The letter warns China that its actions �œthreaten freedom of air and maritime navigation,” which it calls �œvital national interests of the United States.”
�œWe want to stress that China’s declaration of the ADIZ over areas of the East China Sea does not alter the US acknowledgment of Japan’s administrative control over the Senkaku Islands or affect US security commitments to Japan, Korea, and other allies in the Asia-Pacific,” the senators wrote.
On Friday, US Vice President Joe Biden said Washington does not recognize the air zone.
“I was absolutely clear on behalf of my president: We do not recognize the zone. It will have no effect on American operations. None. Zero,” he said.
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Source: Press TV