From the FT, North Asian powers are getting busy saber-rattling, or rather, fighter plane buzzing, each other:
China sent fighter jets into its new air defence zone on Thursday further escalating tensions in the East China Sea that have also drawn in the US.
Col Shen Jinke said several fighter jets and an early-warning aircraft had been deployed as part of a routine patrol. He described the mission as “a defensive measure and in line with international common practices”, according to a statement on the website of the Chinese defence ministry.
The move came as Japan and South Korea flew military aircraft into the same zone, in defiance of China’s demand on Saturday that it be informed of all flights through the area. The zone includes airspace over the contested Senkaku Islands. Eearlier this week the US responded to China’s declaration of an “air defence identification zone” by sending B-52 bombers into the airspace as part of a pre-planned exercise.
One wonders how this will be resolved. Presumably China did not announce its air protectorate half-cocked so must have a plan to stick it out and it’s too far in to withdraw without losing face now anyway. The article goes on:
William Fallon, a former head of US Pacific Command, warned on Wednesday that the Chinese zone would raise the potential for an accidental conflict.
“It is another stick on the fire, and absolutely unnecessary,” said Mr Fallon. “If you send up fighters, it is another opportunity for people to screw up.”
Joe Biden, US vice-president, will tell Chinese leaders on a trip to Beijing next week that the establishment of an air defence zone is “unsettling” to its neighbours and raises questions about its broader international behaviour.
This is right. The main concern is not that the powers will elect to end up in a conflict but an accidental one is possible. It’s not going to help Asian markets while it runs. One wonders of it didn’t play a role in the Australian dollar giving back its capex report gains overnight.
Presumably Julia Bishop has dispatched one of our own F111’s to join the fun.
