Round The World

New Delhi, 11 December 2013

China’s ADIZ

DESTABILIZING THE REGION?

By Prof Arvind Kumar

(Dept of Geopolitics & Intl Relations, Manipal Univ)

China’s recent declaration to the world about its establishment of an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over disputed territory in the East China Sea has raised a serious debate about Beijing’s intentions, fundamental goals and its larger implications for the region. Its action was largely undertaken to elicit responses from elsewhere in the region including Japan and South Korea. Additionally, it was intended to demonstrate its reactions to the growing US presence and its force deployment in the region.

The United States’ to an extent has been extending its sphere of influence in the Asia-Pacific by deploying its air-based and sea-based assets. Indeed, there is a clear indication by Washington in its rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific about its interests and how these have got culminated into competition among major powers.

The announcement by China that it was establishing an ADIZ over a huge expanse of the East China Sea including over the Japanese administered Senkaku islets with a firm conviction signaled its strategic posturing and aggressive designs. Beijing made it amply clear to the world that it expected all commercial and military aircraft flying into the zone to provide it with their advanced warning plans and make these available for contact by Chinese authorities, if needed. It also expected the aircrafts to maintain procedures while passing through the ADIZ. These rules thus, need to be followed by all commercial and military aircraft. China has also emphasized that any violation will elicit defensive manoeuvres from Chinese aircraft.

It must be pointed out here that the United States, Japan and some 18 other countries have established their own ADIZ. Therefore, it seems to be an accepted practice to create such zones. However, China’s establishment of ADIZ is being seen differently because it has insisted on advance notice for aircraft that are just passing through the zone and not headed to mainland China itself. In the case of the US ADIZ, Washington does not require flight plans for aircraft that are not going to land in its country. The shape and scale of China’s ADIZ is also different in proportion.

Importantly, the Chicago Convention, which established the rules for air travel does not preclude the establishment of ADIZ. The international maritime law does connote to the fact that freedoms of navigation and over-flight are identical and cannot be limited by coastal States. There is a growing contradiction that the US ADIZ rules are not applied to military aircraft because these are intercepted in any event. However, when the US operates military aircraft abroad, the ADIZ declared by other countries is ignored.

It is generally believed that the Chinese ADIZ has in particular jurisdictional and operational implications for the US and its close ally Japan. In the beginning, the United States condemned Chinese decision and the American administration’ then ordered a flight of B-52s through the ADIZ and ignored Chinese requirements. The US made it clear that the B-52s flight was part of a long-planned exercise called Coral Lightning. This operational exercise, however, was seen to be a risk taking by the US and also calling China’s bluff. The US, later on, has declared that the American commercial airlines should go ahead and abide by China’s ADIZ rules.

From a Japanese perspective, there will be an absolute overlap in terms of actions by the respective States. It is a well-known fact that China and Japan claim similar authority over the Senkaku and the East China Sea and hence it would be too difficult in terms of exercising the political authority. It will remain a challenge in terms of conceding to the other side’s authority. It would also not be easy on the part of Japan to ignore or neglect the new rules set by China on its ADIZ. The Japanese military aircraft very consistently and on constant basis patrol the East China Sea mainly to monitor and track the growing influence of the Chinese Navy. After the declaration made by China on ADIZ, Japan has also used its fighter jets during patrols over the airspace.

From India’s perspective, it is quite natural that any strategic maneuvers by China would be seen as highly intimidating. In this context, New Delhi can draw parallels from China’s actions in East China Sea and learn from such experience. Obviously, China’s actions in East China Sea have a lot of potential for bringing instability. Such actions will also have escalation spirals. The US’ opposition to China’s growing naval presence and expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific will also not be in India’s interests.

Whether China’s action in East China Sea will alter the status quo in the region forms a major part of debate in the emerging geopolitical context. There will be chances and risk of miscalculation and misunderstandings by China, especially in the context of its declared ADIZ. Beijing seems to be determined and is always in search of making further naval gains especially in the disputed territory. Will China ensure the “freedom of navigation,” remains a crucial question for the countries in the region.

China’s domestic law recognizes that all States, subject to international laws and the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, enjoy the freedoms of navigation and over-flight in its exclusive economic zone. There is a growing fear among the countries in the region about China’s hegemonic ambitions and hence it would be difficult for the region if Beijing keeps taking unilateral decisions, especially on those issues, which are highly contentious.

The US also would be required to be cautious in terms of enhancing its interests. Any action taken by it and China will see the region getting highly destabilizing especially in the context of action-reaction cycles. In fact, China’s ADIZ warranted more of discussions among the countries having differing views and perspectives. In the foreseeable future, it would very difficult for China to dictate to Japan, the US and South Korea.

Undeniably, the Asia-Pacific region will certainly not accept any single power having hegemony.  Thus, the power sharing in the Asia-Pacific will remain a crucial challenge for the major players/countries. A nagging fear is that any hegemonic ambition by China will in all probability see negative consequences and a likely confrontation in the future. --- INFA  

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)