1.

On November 23rd, the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China announced that it has established “the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone” and that aircrafts flying in the said zone must abide by the rules set forth by the Ministry.

2.

The Government of Japan expresses deep concern about China’s establishment of such zone and obliging its own rules within the zone, which are profoundly dangerous acts that unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea, escalating the situation, and that may cause unintended consequences in the East China Sea.

3.

The announcement issued by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense obliges aircraft flying in international airspace to abide by its domestic procedures, and refers to the recourse to “defensive emergency measures” by Chinese Armed Forces in case where such aircraft does not follow the instructed procedures. The announced measures unduly infringe the freedom of flight in international airspace, which is the general principle of international law, and will have serious impacts on the order of international aviation. As many flight routes of civil airplanes run across the airspace above the East China Sea, Japan is deeply concerned about such measures from the viewpoint of its impact on the order and safety of civil aviation.

4.

The announced measures have no validity whatsoever on Japan, and Japan demands China to revoke any measures that could infringe upon the freedom of flight in international airspace.

5.

In addition, the “zone” set by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense seemingly describes the airspace over the Senkaku islands, an inherent part of the territory of Japan, as if it were a part of China’s “territorial airspace”. Japan cannot accept at all such description.

6.

The Government of Japan has already made strong protests to China, conveying the above-mentioned concerns to China, and demanded China to revoke such measures. Concerning China’s announced acts, Japan is working and consulting closely with its ally, the United States, and will coordinate with other relevant countries and partners which have common interests in the stability and safety of the region. Japan will, in partnership with the international community, strongly urge China to exercise self-restraint.

7.

Japan will continue to respond firmly but in a calm manner against China’s attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo by coercive measures with determination to defend resolutely its territorial land, sea and airspace.

1.

On November 25, Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, made a strong protest against Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Japan, under the instruction by Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the November 23announcement by the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China on the establishment “the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone” ,in which that aircrafts flying must abide by the rules set forth by the Ministry. The Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs made a strong protest and demanded China to revoke any related measures as below.

2.

In response to the above, Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Japan, stated that in terms of the airspace established by the Government of China, some countries including Japan also established similar airspace and therefore such establishment of airspace meets the international practice and the announced measures do not target any specific country nor prevent free flight of planes, including civil airplanes, and demanded that Japan withdraw its irrational request of demanding revocation of the measures. Ambassador Cheng also stated that exchange of opinions should be carried out between concerned authorities of both Japan and China and also referred to China’s own assertion on the Senkaku Islands.

3.

In response to this, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki stated that China’s assertion could not be accepted at all and the Government of China should immediately revoke the measures and asked Ambassador Cheng to accurately report the protest from the Government of Japan to the Government of China.

1.

At 4:10 pm on November 23, Mr. Junichi Ihara, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of MOFA lodged Japan’s strong protest to Mr. Han Zhigiang, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Japan concerning the establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea that the Ministry of National Defense of China had announced on the same day.

2.

In the protest, Director-General Ihara conveyed the message that the ADIZ that the Chinese side had established was totally unacceptable as it included the Japanese territorial airspace over the Senkaku Islands, which is an inherent territory of Japan.

3.

On that basis, Director-General Ihara noted that China’s unilateral establishment of such airspace was extremely dangerous as it could unilaterally escalate the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands and lead to an unexpected occurrence of accidents in the airspace. He also said that Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan had directed him to explicitly lodge the protest and that Japan reserved the right to lodge further protests.

4.

In response, Minister Han Zhigiang stated China’s own position and replied that he would report to his home government.

5.

The Japanese Government has been collecting information and taking appropriate actions. On the afternoon of November 23, a Director-General level meeting was held at the Cabinet Secretary attended by relevant ministries’ officials.