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| Japanese Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft |
After the suggestion made by Rear Admiral Robert Thomas, the commander of the US Seventh Fleet, that Japan begin aerial patrols over the disputed South China Sea, China may establish a second Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the region, according to Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, a defense expert said in his article written for the Jamestown Foundation on Feb. 4.
Beauchamp-Mustafaga said that the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) has just put its P-1 patrol planes, with a combat range of 8,000 kilometers, into service. This aircraft gives Japan the capability it needs to patrol the entire South China Sea. "I think that [JMSDF] operations in the South China Sea makes sense in the future," said Thomas on Jan. 29, "In the South China Sea, frankly, the Chinese fishing fleet, the Chinese coastguard and the [navy] overmatch their neighbors."
The Pentagon supported Thomas' comments, while the State Department tried to downplay them. Japan did not respond to Thomas' suggestion. Beijing has issued a warning to Tokyo to stay away from the disputed region, however. "Countries outside the region should respect the endeavor of countries in the region to safeguard peace and stability and refrain from sowing discord among other countries and creating tensions," said a representative of the Chinese foreign ministry on Jan. 30.
Read the full story at Want China Times