CCTV9英语新闻12月：国防部：防空识别区并非“禁飞区” 未扩大领空（在线收听）

China's Defense Ministry has reaffirmed that the country's newly announced East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone is not an expansion of China's airspace.

East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (Source: Ministry of National Defense/China Daily)

Defense Ministry spokesperson Geng Yansheng clarified at a press conference, that the ADIZ is not a "no-fly" zone, but has been established as a precaution to help China better defend its national security.

Geng Yansheng said the ADIZ is essentially different from territorial airspace or no-fly zones. It will not affect the freedom of overflight of other countries’ aircraft, based on international laws. Nor is it aimed at any specific country or target.

Answering some people’s doubt on China’s monitoring capabilities in the ADIZ, the spokesman said the military’s determination to safeguard the security of national territory and territorial airspace are unwavering. And the military is fully capable of exercising effective control over the ADIZ.

Geng also said China is not alone in requiring aircraft flying over its ADIZ to report flight plans. He added that already, a majority of civil aviation companies with their air routes through the area have reported their flight plans to China’s civil aviation department, including some Japanese airlines. China’s requirement is conducive to ensuring flight safety and avoiding misunderstanding and misjudgment.

Geng added that Japan established its air defense identification zone over four decades back, and had in that period expanded it twice. He reiterated that Japan has no right to comment on China’s rightful setting up of its own ADIZ.

Geng concluded that China is willing to communicate actively with relevant parties to jointly safeguard flight safety and promote peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region.