The creation of an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) by China over the East China Sea perhaps should not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with China's growing status as a self-confident world power. It argues, that an ADIZ, is nothing novel and that many countries, including Japan and the US also operate similar ADIZs. This may be true on one level but ignores that its unilateral ADIZ overlaps the Japanese one and covers the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Additionally Beijing's new rules that all aircraft, no matter whether their destination is China or not, should file flight plans and identify themselves, presents a clear challenge to its neighbours. The US and Japan have already called Beijing's bluff with flights into the ADIZ of military aircraft. However, the real risk is that an accident, or mistake could lead to events escalating in an area where tensions are high and the 'loss of face' brings serious implications.
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