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China 'tailed' US and Japanese planes in defence zone China scrambles jets in air defence zone
(34 minutes later)
China says its fighter jets followed US and Japanese planes as they passed inside China's newly declared air defence zone in the East China Sea. China says it scrambled fighter jets to monitor US and Japanese planes as they flew in its newly declared air defence zone in the East China Sea on Friday.
The vast zone, announced last week, crosses territory claimed by China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The zone covers territory claimed by China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
China has said all planes transiting the zone must file flight plans and identify themselves, or face "defensive emergency measures". China said last week that all aircraft crossing through the zone must file flight plans and identify themselves or face "defensive emergency measures".
The US, Japan and South Korea say they have since defied the ruling. The US, Japan and South Korea say they have since defied the ruling and flown military aircraft in the area.
Air Force Spokesman Shen Jinke said Chinese pilots had identified two US surveillance aircrafts and 10 Japanese planes, including early warning aircrafts, surveillance aircrafts and fighter jets, say reports. The air defence identification zone (ADIZ) includes islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, which are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan.
It was not immediately clear when the tailing had taken place. South Korea claims ownership of a submerged rock within the zone.
The establishment of the ADIZ has caused widespread anger, with the US calling it a "destabilising attempt to alter the status quo in the region".
On Thursday, China announced it was deploying warplanes in the area as a "defensive measure" and to carry out routine surveillance.
Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke said that on Friday morning, Chinese pilots had been scrambled to identify two US surveillance aircraft and 10 Japanese planes - including early warning aircraft, surveillance aircraft and fighter jets - crossing through the ADIZ, state media reports.
He made no reference to whether any further action was taken by any of the aircraft.
Earlier army spokesman Qin Gang said China had a right to patrol the region and that freedom of flight over the East China Sea was unaffected.