US warns China against imposing South China Sea air zone

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned China on Tuesday against imposing an air defence zone over the South China Sea, similar to one it declared over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

“The zone should not be implemented and China should refrain from taking similar, unilateral actions elsewhere in the region, and particularly over the South China Sea,” Kerry told a news conference in Manila.

The Philippines warned last month that China’s announcement of an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea raised the prospect of it doing the same for the South China Sea.

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims to parts of the strategically vital and potentially resource-rich South China Sea.

“Today, I raised our deep concerns about China’s announcement of an East China Sea air defence identification zone,” Kerry said, referring to his discussions in Manila with Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

“I told the foreign secretary that the United States does not recognise that (East China Sea) zone and does not accept it.”

Beijing’s East China Sea air defence zone requires aircraft to provide flight plans when traversing the area, declare their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication, or face “emergency defensive measures”.