U.S. Secretary of State warns Beijing over air defense zone for S.China Sea

dimeji akinloye

June 5, 2016 5:05 AM

Kerry will visit China after Mongolia.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to opening remarks during the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California February 15, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

U.S. Secretary of State

U.S. officials have expressed concern that an international court ruling expected in coming weeks on a case brought by the Philippines against China over its South China Sea claims could prompt Beijing to declare an air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, as it did over the East China Sea in 2013.

"We would consider an ADIZ...over portions of the South China Sea as a provocative and destabilizing act which would automatically raise tensions and call into serious question China's commitment to diplomatically manage the territorial disputes of the South China Sea," Kerry said during a visit to Mongolia.

"So we urge China not to move unilaterally in ways that are provocative."

China drew condemnation from Japan and the United States when it imposed its ADIZ, in which aircraft are supposed to identify themselves to Chinese authorities, above the East China Sea.

China has neither confirmed nor denied it plans such a zone for the South China Sea, saying that such a decision would be based on the threat level and that it had every right to set one up.

READ: ‘We are pleased with Buhari’s policies,’ John Kerry

China claims most of the South China Sea through which trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes every year and has been undertaking extensive reclamation and construction activities on islands and reefs it occupies.

Neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

dimeji akinloye