China sends warplanes to disputed airspace over East China Sea

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_In... Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... Chinese warplanes have taken to the skies in the country's newly declared air defense zone over the East China Sea. The provocative military move ratchets up already high tensions with Korea, Japan and the United States. Kim Hyun-bin reports. China sent warplanes into disputed airspace over the East China Sea on Thursday shortly after South Korean and Japanese military aircraft flew through the area. China's air force spokesman was quoted in Chinese state media as saying that several fighter jets and an early warning aircraft were sent on normal air patrols in the zone. Beijing's move came just a few days after the U.S. flew two B-52 bombers over the zone, and a matter of hours after South Korea and Japan followed Washington's footsteps. "Even since China has created this airspace defense zone, we have continued our surveillance activities as before in the East China Sea including in the zone." China on Thursday reiterated its stance on the legitimacy of their new air defense zone. "We have clarified our position on the issue of the Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea again and again: Japan and the United States should not make irresponsible remarks because they make no sense. We also ask them to reflect on themselves, correct their errors and stop making irresponsible accusations against China." The U.S. does not take sides on the sovereignty of the East China Sea islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, but recognizes Japan has administrative control. This latest air space dispute has many concerned that it could escalate into an unexpected military conflict. Amid the tensions, the U.S. and Japan on Wednesday started their annual joint naval training exercise near the disputed islands. Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News.