What is ADIZ?
An ADIZ is a publicly defined international airspace extending beyond national territory in which unidentified aircrafts can be interrogated. It is mainly to protect a country from any security threat, but other benefits are reduce mid-air collisions, combat drug flows, facilitate search and rescue operations etc.
There is no International Agreement about ADIZs and it is not Jurisdictional.
Origin
During cold war US declared first ADIZs to reduce the risk of a surprise attack from Soviets. Today US has 5 ADIZs. Other countries who have ADIZs are India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, UK and now China.
Effect of an ADIZ
Any aircraft before entering any such zone has to notify the concerned authorities beforehand about their flight plan and follow instructions from their ATC. In an event of not declaring flight plan beforehand a country can take actions against the aircraft if they think it as a security threat.
Chinas ADIZ (see map)
Every country has ADIZ then why the fuss about China--
Firstly, ADIZ is mainly for security threat. China has no such threat. There are tensions in the region but no country is ready to strike the heart of the global economy. In fact declaring an ADIZ has increased more tensions in the region and fears about Chinas long term plans.
Secondly, Chinas ADIZ overlaps with Japans already declared ADIZ and two islands administered by Japan (which China claims to be their own) and with South Koreas reef known as leodo.
China thinks that ADIZ will strengthen its claim over the disputed islands. But the problem is even if countries confirm the ADIZ, an ADIZ is nor jurisdictional and China cannot claim authority over the islands.
Dispute over the Islands
Japan has held the islands since late 19th century but since 1970s China has also claimed them. China claims these islands were annexed by Japan during colonial settlements and should be returned to China.
Effect of Chinas ADIZ
As soon as China declared ADIZ on November 23, two Japanese airlines shared their flight plans with them. US, Japan, South Korea declared they do not follow the zone. US immediately sent two fighter planes B-52 bombers through the zone. Later Japan and South Korea also sent their military planes through the zone without informing the Chinese authorities. But US has asked its passenger planes to adhere to zone and share their flight plans with China. Australian airlines also adhere to the zone.
To understand the matters further here is the map
Now South Korea has decided to increase its KADIZ (see map) which will overlap with both China and Japans zones. Now China is okay with this expansion and is not refuting the expansion. Why? Firstly, this will strengthen Chinas ADIZ claims. SK is ally with the US and if US doesnt object to the expansion this will give China a possible reason in favour of its ADIZ.
Secondly, China has nothing to do with SK and its main strategic rival is Japan. With the SK expansion Japan is mute on it where in fact KADIZ overlaps more with Japan than China. This can also strengthen Chinas ADIZ claims. China is moving very strategically and trying to claim its dominance in East China Sea.
Possible Solution to disputed Islands
One solution could be for Japan to sell the islands to Taiwan. Since Taiwan and China officially agree there is only one China. So China could say that the islands are under Chinese Sovereignty and Japan could say that they didnt give in to Chinas demands.
Name Nitin Dahiya
References:-
The Economist, The Hindu
www.thediplomat.com ,
www.foreignaffairs.com
