Zone talk targets China: sources

Sources told China Daily that a recent report speculating on whether China might designate an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea was "beating over old ground" and the motive behind it may be to "hold China accountable for the rising tensions in the South China Sea".

After China established an ADIZ in the East China Sea in November of 2013, speculation about another ADIZ for the South China Sea has made headlines on multiple occasions.

The latest was reported on Wednesday by the South China Morning Post, which quoted an unnamed informant as saying that "if the US military keeps making provocative moves to challenge China's sovereignty in the region, it will give Beijing a good opportunity" [to establish a ADIZ].

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source close to the matter told China Daily that the Chinese Ministry of National Defense has responded to such guesswork before.

"There have been voices hyping the so-called ADIZ in the South China Sea or sensationalizing what they claim as China's massive constructions in the sea. Despite the great variety of such talk, there is one common goal behind it all: to hold China accountable for the rising tensions in the South China Sea," the source said.

As for the timing of such talk, another source said one possible intention is to "further attract criticism and attention, shape China's 'assertive' image in the South China Sea and keep the tensions there from cooling down".

Another possible intention, the source noted, was that "China has legally tackled in a reasoned and justified approach" to the US "Freedom of Navigation program" actions, which have recently infringed on China's territorial sovereignty and lawful rights and interests.

"The relevant parties or individuals know clearly that they are in the wrong, they are keen to shift focus and attention, so they seek to once again hype up the ADIZ talk and accuse China of 'militarizing the South China Sea'," the source said.

Another source observed that the wild claims may be related to a range of key bilateral or multilateral official or semiofficial dialogues that are scheduled to take place later this month.

These include the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and a regular gathering of senior officials from China and ASEAN countries to implement the Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea, a pact signed in 2002.

"Those parties or individuals attempting to contain China aim to have more bargaining chips in their hands (by making the claims or speculations)," the source said.

Contact the writer at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn.