Angry over USA surveillance flights over in the airspace over the region, Beijing is reportedly considering establishing an Air Defense Identification Zone over portions of the South China Sea, which would require all incoming aircraft to register with Chinese authorities to fly in the air route.
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Lighthouses are part of Beijing’s controversial expansion and building of civilian and military facilities in the South China Sea, where it has overlapping territorial claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
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.
In January 2013 the Philippines unilaterally initiated an global arbitration case with China on the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
The South China Morning Post cited Army Sources, as saying that China may impose an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea.
Taiwan’s announcement will give Beijing more reason to be upset with what it still considers to be a renegade province, even though Taiwan has governed itself as a country and held independent elections for decades. He emphasized that Beijing favored a “dual-track approach” to territorial rows in the South China Sea, meaning nations that are involved in a dispute should talk directly to each other.
“We do not make trouble but we have no fear of trouble”, the Chinese admiral said.
“China will not bear the consequences, nor will it allow any infringement on its sovereignty and security interest, or stay indifferent to some countries creating chaos in the South China Sea”, Sun said.
“We hope those certain countries will stop disturbing regional safety and stability in the name of safeguarding the right of the navigation freedom”, Hua said.
Tensions in the South China Sea will drive up defense spending in the Asia-Pacific region by almost a quarter by the end of the decade, consultancy IHS Jane’s said last week. Sun said the Philippine petition goes against a bilateral understanding to resolve the issue through negotiations.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi in remarks in Beijing on Tuesday at the end of a Strategic and Security Dialogue with the USA said South China Sea islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times and China has every right to “uphold its territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime entitlements”.
Feng told lawmakers Taiwan would send additional ammunition to Itu Aba for its anti-aircraft guns in the next month.
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According to a report from the Foreign Policy, France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called onto his European comrades to have a “regular and visible” presence to uphold peace in the South China Sea.
