Illustration:Liu Rui/GT

Beijing's declaration of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) late last month, in line with international practices, has generated a substantial reaction in the international community.

Since the US first established its ADIZ in 1950, more than 20 countries and regions including South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have followed suit. Therefore the setup of ADIZ has become an internationally acknowledged practice that has received tacit approval from most nations.

China has been complying with relevant stipulations and filing flight plans when its planes fly through the ADIZs of other countries.

Whether a state demarcates an ADIZ and implements effective surveillance belongs to its internal affairs. China's establishment of the ADIZ over the East China Sea is a due action to exercise its right to self-defense. It has no intention to direct it against any specific state. However, certain countries still make a fuss and create panic among themselves.

Tokyo, Washington and Seoul claimed that they would not recognize China's ADIZ and the US even flew its bombers through the newly established zone without informing Beijing in advance.

Japan reacted the most fiercely, with its lower house adopting a resolution urging China to rescind the zone.

Later, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress of China issued a statement, saying China's top legislature firmly opposed Tokyo's irrational requirement and the Japanese side had no right to make such irresponsible remarks.

On December 8, the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea released an official plan to extend its ADIZ to encompass Suyan Rock, Marado and Hongdo islands. This maneuver has been hailed by its US and Japanese allies.

Now it seems that the issue is not only pertinent to ADIZ demarcation but will likely evolve into a diplomatic game unfolding across Northeast Asia. The nationalist and rightist Japanese government has been attempting to brew mischief.

Beijing and Seoul have witnessed fruitful achievements in bilateral ties since South Korean President Park Geun-hye visited China in June. From the perspectives of geopolitics, economic complementarities, and cultural communication, both China and South Korea can benefit from peaceful coexistence but lose from conflict.

This has become a consensus between the two governments and peoples and constituted the fundamental driving force for the smooth development of Beijing-Seoul relations.

When China's Ministry of National Defense declared the establishment of the ADIZ over the East China Sea, the Blue House remained calm at first, though its defense ministry expressed regrets over the overlapping area with its own ADIZ. And some from the country's military force asserted that the issue about the overlapping area could be totally negligible.

It is not likely there will be outbursts of conflicts because a military hotline has been set up between Chinese and South Korean forces. This pragmatic attitude has laid a solid foundation for the two neighboring countries to address disputes through negotiations and consultations.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear that the Chinese side had communicated with its South Korean counterpart on many occasions and the latter also informed China of its decision to expand the ADIZ.

China's foreign and national defense ministries declared positions to Seoul as early as possible and suggested it deal with relevant issues with prudence. Then South Korea's presidential office softened its stance by allowing its airlines to file flight plans to China, which shows that it is adopting a more reasonable manner than Abe's cabinet, and is focusing more on civil aviation safety.

Plus, South Korea's foreign ministry claimed that it would never permit Tokyo to cover Dokdo, known as Takeshima in Japanese, in its ADIZ.

Consequently, it appears that though the demarcation of China's ADIZ has triggered some disturbance, the overall situation in Northeast Asia remains in control and the intention of a certain state to play Seoul against Beijing will not succeed.

The author is vice director with the Center for Northeast Asian studies, Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

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