China says it has sent two fighter jets to monitor U.S. and Japanese aircraft that flew into its newly declared air defense zone over the East China Sea.
China's official Xinhua news agency quotes Defense Ministry spokesman Shen Jinke Friday as saying the fighter jets identified two U.S. and 10 Japanese aircraft during their flights over disputed islands controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing.
The report makes no mention of any communication or other engagement between the Chinese planes and the U.S. and Japanese aircraft. Washington and Tokyo have not yet commented on the report.
Beijing said Thursday it had sent warplanes into the region on a monitoring mission, but Friday marks the first time officials have reported the monitoring of specific foreign aircraft.
Despite the tensions, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense James Clad said in an interview with VOA that the possibility of direct conflict is not a large concern.
"If I had to guess, unhappily I'd guess there will be more of this and that it will become routine," said Clad. "That each country will say it is making best efforts to assert sovereignty, or assert maintenance of its diplomatic position regarding territorial claims."
The Chinese Defense Ministry declared last week that all aircraft in the zone must identify themselves and obey Chinese orders.
Japan, the United States and South Korea have refused to recognize the Chinese-declared air zone. All three have challenged the zone by sending in military aircraft. The United States, which is obligated by treaty to defend Japan and South Korea, sought to underscore its position by flying two B-52 bombers over the islands this week.
The Chinese response raises the stakes in an international standoff over the the uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
Chinese officials reacted calmly to the U.S. overflights by simply acknowledging them and saying the Chinese military had monitored them without taking action. But that measured response ignited criticism on Chinese micro-blogging sites and in some state media.
The festering dispute with Japan is one of several maritime controversies pitting China against Asian nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
Beijing has indicated a willingness to negotiate the disputes, but so far has rejected calls for multilateral negotiations. It has sought separate talks with each country.
This story first appeared on Voice of America & is reposted here with permission.