(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Japan has protested to China over its creation of an air defense identification zone in airspace over an area that includes the Senkaku Islands in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.
China's Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that it has set up an air defense identification zone over a large area over the East China Sea that includes airspace over the Senkaku Islands
Japan controls the islands, which are claimed by China and Taiwan, according to Japan's (NHK WORLD) website
The Director-General of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Junichi Ihara said the Senkaku Islands belong to Japan, and it is unacceptable that China's creation of an air defense identification zone should cover airspace over the islands
He said China's unilateral creation of the zone is very dangerous as it escalates the situation surrounding the islands and could bring about unexpected circumstances
The former commander of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force, Toshimichi Nagaiwa says China's move is likely aimed at showing its stance to its own people than significantly strengthening military action
He said Japan's Self-Defense Forces should not overreact to China's move but should continue to stay on high alert to clearly convey to China the country's determination to defend its sovereignty
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