To prevent a full scale war between China and Japan over the disputed Diaoyutai (Diaoyu or Senkaku) islands, the US has implored the Japanese government to abandon their warning shot threats against Chinese aircraft, reports our sister newspaper, Want Daily.
Itsunori Onodera, the Japanese defense minister, had confirmed on Jan. 15 that Japan's Air Defense Force will fire warning shots — in the form of flares — against intruding foreign aircraft entering its the air defense identification zone. Since Chinese observation aircraft belonging to the State Oceanic Administration began to appear over the Diaoyutai islands frequently after Dec. 13, 2012, Onodera wished to remind China of the competing claims both countries have to the island chain in the East China Sea.
The US, who would be obliged to come to Japan's aid, has since advised against such provocative measures, according to the Tokyo-based Japan News Network.
Read the full story at Want China Times