China Responds To US Testing Its New Air Defense Zone

The Obama Administration’s test of China’s new Air defense Zone in the South China Sea earlier week has finally elicited a response.

China said it had sent warplanes to patrol its newly declared maritime air defense identification zone on Thursday, while Japan and South Korea have also sent surveillance aircraft into the area.

Air force spokesman Shen Jinke said several fighter jets and an early warning aircraft had been sent on “defensive” air patrols in the zone, to “strengthen the monitoring of aerial targets,” the Xinhua state news agency reported.

Chinese leaders have faced criticism at its inaction after the U.S., Japan and other nations ignored their proclamation and flew aircraft directly through the zone China claims is now run by them. Today’s action by China threaten to escalate tensions in the region and across the globe on this sensitive issue.

By: Mark Quincy Adams

A proud 'pragmatic progressive' Mark Quincy Adams has been a political
talk show host and prolific pontificator since 1992. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @politicalglutton