China denies military aircraft entered South Korea's ADIZ illegally
China said that information about its military aircraft illegally entering the Korean air defense identification zone is "absurd".
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South Korean F-15K aircraft. Photo: AP. |
"I must emphasize that the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is not equivalent to a country's airspace. The South Korean side's complaint is completely unreasonable,"Xinhuaquoted Lu Kang, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as saying today.
Mr. Lu responded when asked to comment on the information that South Korea summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest. China said that the flight path of the aircraft during the military exercise in the area was in accordance with international law and practice.
Chinese military aircraft entered South Korea's ADIZ near Ulleungdo Island, east of South Korea, on the morning of February 27 and left four hours later. South Korea had to deploy more than 10 aircraft, including F-15K and F-16, to monitor the situation.The plane's flight path was "unusual" because the Chinese plane had previously entered the Korean ADIZ from the south of the peninsula.
Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong was summoned the same day to report the "unfortunate" incident. South Korea urged China to avoid a similar situation, the country's foreign ministry said on February 28.
