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Air defense identification zone

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Air Defense Identification Zone of Japan (blue) and China (pink)

An Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is airspace over land or water in which the identification, location, and control of civil aircraft is required in the interest of national security.[1] They extend beyond a country's airspace to give the country more time to respond to foreign and possibly hostile aircraft.[2] The authority to establish an ADIZ is not given by any international treaty nor prohibited by international law and is not regulated by any international body.[2][3]

The first ADIZ was established by the United States soon after World War II. Several countries now have such zones including Canada, India,[4] Japan, Pakistan, Norway and the United Kingdom, People's Republic of China, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.[1][2][5] Usually such zones only covered undisputed territory, only apply to civilian aircraft, and do not overlap.[3][6]

Air defense zones should not be confused with Flight Information Regions (FIRs), which are used to manage air traffic.[1]

United States and Canada

Main articles: Air Defense Identification Zone (North America) and Air Defense Identification Zone (Washington DC)

The United States maintains four zones: The Contiguous US ADIZ; Alaska ADIZ; Guam ADIZ; and Hawaii ADIZ.[1] Under U.S. law and policy, the zone applies only to commercial aircraft intending to enter U.S. airspace.[1] An air defense command and control structure was developed in 1950, creating five Air Defense Identification Zones around North America. If radio interrogation failed to identify an aircraft in the ADIZ, the Air Force launched interceptor aircraft to identify the intruder visually. The air defense system reached its peak in 1962, however with the deployment of the SS-6 ICBM in the USSR, strategic threats shifted overwhelmingly to ICBM attacks, and bomber intrusions were considered to be less of a threat. It does apply to aircraft passing through the zone to other countries. These zones were established after broad consultations with other countries and with aviation authorities worldwide.

Canada also operates a section of the North American ADIZ.

Japan

Japan has an ADIZ that overlaps most of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Its western border was set up after World War II by the US military at 123° degrees east. This resulted in only the eastern half of Yonaguni Island being part of Japan's ADIZ and the western half being part of Taiwan's ADIZ. On June 25, 2010 Japan extended its ADIZ around this island 22 km westwards. This led to an overlapping with Taiwan's ADIZ; the government of Taiwan expressed its "regret" over Japan's move.[7] Regarding the coast of mainland China, Japan's ADIZ has a distance of 130 km at its closest point.[8]

China and Russia do not recognize Japan's ADIZ.[9]

South Korea

File:Expansion of KADIZ.jpg
Expansion of Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ)

South Korea operates a zone that covers most but not all of its claimed airspace.[10] It does not cover some remote spots.[10] The zone was established in 1951, during the Korean War, by the United States Air Force to block communist forces.[10] In 2013, in response to the establishment of a Chinese zone that covers disputed territory, the South Korean government considered expanding their zone to include islands of Marado and Hongdo, and Ieodo, a submerged rock within the overlapping exclusive economic zones of South Korea and China.[10] On December 8, 2013, Defense Ministry of Republic of Korea announced the expansion of the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ).

China

Main article: Air Defense Identification Zone (East China Sea)

On November 23, 2013 the People's Republic of China (PRC) established a zone in the East China Sea.

This ADIZ is bounded by lines joining the following 6 points:[11]

  • 33 degrees 11 minutes North 121 degrees 47 minutes East
  • 33 degrees 11 minutes North 125 degrees 00 minutes East
  • 31 degrees 00 minutes North 128 degrees 20 minutes East
  • 25 degrees 38 minutes North 125 degrees 00 minutes East
  • 24 degrees 45 minutes North 123 degrees 00 minutes East
  • 26 degrees 44 minutes North 120 degrees 58 minutes East

The announcement of the zone drew attention and expressions of discontent from some countries that are historically hostile to China, especially from Japan and the U.S. These responses focused on two related aspects: while hitherto some zones had only covered territory that was undisputed at the time of their establishment, China's ADIZ in the East China Sea covers the Japanese-controlled, China-claimed Diaoyu Island (China)/Senkaku Islands (Japan)[2] and also includes Socotra Rock, which is claimed by Korea. Secondly, China's zone overlaps with other countries' ADIZ and imposes requirements on both civilian and military aircraft regardless of destination.[3][6]

The establishment of the Chinese zone is nonetheless not unique in some respects.[citation needed] For example, in 2010 Japan extended its ADIZ by some two dozen kilometers around its island nearest Taiwan such that it overlapped that of Taiwan.[12] It has also been claimed that the PRC/Japan dispute over the Daioyu/Senkaku islands predates Japan's 1969 establishment of its ADIZ over the islands. There is ample historical proof that Diaoyu Islands belong to China since the Ming Dynasty if not before. Diaoyu Islands was also returned to China by Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation as part of Taiwan. [13] The Chinese government has noted that any established international limits for defining and enforcing an ADIZ are not clearly defined.[citation needed] Chuck Hagel, the American Secretary of Defense, while acknowledging there is nothing new or unique in establishing an ADIZ, complained about the manner in which China had acted as "unilateral", "immediate" and "without consultation".[14] Hagel's complaint is without merit because neither the US nor Japan had consulted China before establishming any of their respective ADIZs. American Vice-President Joe Biden made no public mention of the Chinese ADIZ following his meeting with Chinese President Xi.[15] although elsewhere expressed concern that the Chinese move had escalated tensions in the region. Tension following the establishment of the Chinese ADIZ is not caused by its establishment but by the overreaction of countries hostile to China.

The Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone as follows:

First, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must abide by these rules.
Second, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must provide the following means of identification:
  1. Flight plan identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should report the flight plans to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China or the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
  2. Radio identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must maintain the two-way radio communications, and respond in a timely and accurate manner to the identification inquiries from the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone or the unit authorized by the organ.
  3. Transponder identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, if equipped with the secondary radar transponder, should keep the transponder working throughout the entire course.
  4. Logo identification. Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must clearly mark their nationalities and the logo of their registration identification in accordance with related international treaties.
Third, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should follow the instructions of the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone or the unit authorized by the organ. China's armed forces will adopt defensive emergency measures to respond to aircraft that do not cooperate in the identification or refuse to follow the instructions.
Fourth, the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China is the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.
Fifth, the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China is responsible for the explanation of these rules.
Sixth, these rules will come into force at 10 a.m. November 23, 2013.[16]

As of Dec. 4, 2013 some 55 airlines in 19 countries and 3 regions have complied with China's ADIZ rules.[17] South Korea's Ministry of Transport said South Korean airlines would not recognize the Chinese ADIZ.[10] Japan said its airlines would also not recognize the zone.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Abeyratne, Ruwantissa (19 August 2011). "In search of theoretical justification for air defence identification zones" (PDF). International Federation For Aviation And Development (IFFAAD). Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Page, Jeremy (Nov 27, 2013). "The A to Z on China's Air Defense Identification Zone". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Air Defense Identification Zone". GlobalSecurity.Org. Retrieved 29 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help) Cite error: The named reference "GlobSec" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Navy Closely Watching China Claims". New Indian Express. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  5. ^ Jane Perlez (27 November 2013), China Explains Handling of B-52 Flight as Tensions Escalate The New York Times
  6. ^ a b Rick Gladstone and Matthew L. Wald (27 November 2013), China’s Move Puts Airspace in Spotlight The New York Times
  7. ^ "Japan extends ADIZ into Taiwan space". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Japan scrambles fighters over Diaoyu". Globaltimes. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Background: Air Defense Identification Zones". China Network Television. 24 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ a b c d e "Seoul considers southward expansion of air defense zone". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  11. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-11/23/c_132911635.htm
  12. ^ http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/06/26/2003476438
  13. ^ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-09/14/content_15757131.htm
  14. ^ http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/131204/hagel-says-chinas-way-setting-air-zone-was-not-wise
  15. ^ http://www.voanews.com/content/biden-meets-with-chinese-president-no-public-mention-of-adiz/1803237.ht
  16. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-11/23/c_132911634.htm
  17. ^ "55 airlines report flight plans to China: FM - People's Daily Online". English.peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
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