China Raises Stakes Near New 'Air Defense Zone' With Fighter Jet Patrol

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/china-raises-stakes-near-new-air-defense-zone-with-fighter-jet-patrol-2013-11

BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China sent several fighter jets and an early warning aircraft into its new air defense zone over the East China Sea, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, raising the stakes in a standoff with the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Japan and South Korea also flew military aircraft through the zone, the two countries said on Thursday, while Washington sent two unarmed B-52 bombers into the airspace earlier this week in a sign of support for its ally Japan. None of those aircraft informed China.

China last week announced that foreign aircraft passing through its new air defense zone - including passenger planes - would have to identify themselves to Chinese authorities. The zone includes the skies over islands at the heart of a territorial dispute between Japan and China.

The Chinese patrol mission, conducted on Thursday, was "a defensive measure and in line with international common practices", Xinhua cited air force spokesman Shen Jinke as saying.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/china-raises-stakes-near-new-air-defense-zone-with-fighter-jet-patrol-2013-11#ixzz2m2NHxKXv

[Bonobo]

1. They are going to come out of this looking like assholes.

And blusterers making empty threats.