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US warns commercial airlines to keep clear of China's disputed territory, but Japan says 'ignore them'
BY: STAFF WRITERS FROM: NEWS LIMITED NETWORK 16 HOURS AGONOVEMBER 28, 2013 8:37AM

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Shadow of war ... a replica of a Chinese-made f ighter jet in Beijing. China say s it monitored two US bombers that f lew ov er the East China Sea in def iance of Beijing's declaration it was exercising greater military control ov er the area. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Source: AP

THE US has told its commercial airliners to stay out of trouble by avoiding China's freshly claimed airspace but Japan is ignoring the threat, raising fears of another deadly disaster like the downing of KAL Flight 007. Announced over the weekend, the Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) requires all aircraft to provide their flight plan, declare their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication, or face "defensive emergency measures". The move has fuelled tensions with Japan since the zone covers Tokyo-controlled islands - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - where ships and aircraft from the two countries already shadow each other in a potentially dangerous confrontation. Overnight, Japan and the United States took divergent approaches in advising their national commercial airlines in how to react to the situation. In Washington, the State Department advised all US airlines to take steps to stay safe amid the fresh tensions - no doubt fearing a repeat of the 1983 disaster where Korean Air Lines Flight 007 strayed over Russian air space and was shot down in the Sea of Japan with the loss of 269 passengers and crew.

Air alert ... an honour guard near the airliner carry ing China's Premier Li Keqiang on a runway outside Bucharest, Romania during a meeting of heads of gov ernment. (AP /Vadim Ghirda) Source: AP

However, Japanese airlines, under pressure from Tokyo, last night stopped following China's new rules after initially complying. China has insisted it has the ability to enforce its newly-declared air zone. "The Chinese government has the will and ability to defend our national sovereignty and security,'' Qin Gang, Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman told reporters overnight. Australian airline and Qantas offshoot Jetstar has one route near the area. Comment is being sought as to whether it will change its schedule. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has criticised the Chinese move. The US says it has no intention of complying with the Chinese demands on a military level, and that its hundreds of armed forces aircraft in the region will "fly as usual" - despite the advice to airliners. Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have called the zone invalid, unenforceable and dangerous. "This will raise regional tensions and increase the risk of miscalculation, confrontation and accidents," US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. Meanwhile, Philippines Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the imminent arrival of China's first aircraft carrier battle group off a shoal to the north of the archipelago nation was "a violation of international law".

Rocky f uture ... a Japanese P-3C Orion surv eillance plane f lies ov er the disputed islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoy u in China. (AP /Ky odo News) Source: AP

"Its deployment does not contribute to collective efforts to strengthen regional stability and instead serves the status quo," he said. China insists the deployment is for training and experimental purposes only, with naval officials saying the training mission would test the aircraft carrier Liaoning's weapons systems. The navy did not say how long the drills would last. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie told Chinese state media the exercises would involve a range of vessels and technology. "Today's vessels with Liaoning all have anti-submarine and air defence functions. The formation will be perfected after the submarines and other vessels join the group," he said. A Chinese hospital ship, Peace Ark, arrived in the Philippines at the weekend on a mercy mission to assist Typhoon Haiyan survivors. Relations between Manila and Beijing soured in April last year when Chinese vessels entered the Scarborough Shoal, a Philippine-claimed territory just 230km off the province of Zambales in Luzon.

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Mixed messages ... Chinese People's Liberation Army hospital ship, the Peace Ark, is anchored of f Ley te Gulf , central Philippines, to take part in rehabilitation ef f orts f or ty phoon-rav aged areas. (AP /Ver Nov eno) Source: AP

A Chinese warship blocked Philippine Navy and Coast Guard from boarding the boats of poachers and apprehending the crew, triggering a naval standoff that lasted for more than two months. Meanwhile the war of words over Tuesday's overflight of the disputed territory by US B-52 bombers continues. The flight of the long-range Stratofortress planes was a clear warning that Washington would push back against what it considers an aggressive stance by Beijing. But it was also a signal of US support for Japan, with which Washington has a security pact. US defence chief Chuck Hagel praised Tokyo Wednesday for showing "appropriate restraint'' in the wake of the announcement.

China lashes out at Aust criticism According to the Jiji Press news agency, Japanese Defense Secretary Itsunori Onodera and Hagel spoke by phone for 30 minutes Wednesday during which they agreed to cooperate in pressuring China to abandon the zone.
### Australia risks another diplomatic spat, after China lashed out at Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's comments.

SOURCE: http://www.news.com.au/world/australian-airlines-wont-change-flight-paths-to-avoid-chinas-disputed-territory/story-fndir2ev-1226770281089