China sends warplanes into new air defence zone amid tensions

Japan established its own ADIZ in 1969, therefore it has no right at all to make irresponsible remarks on China's ADIZ over the East China Sea, Xinhau quoted Yang as saying. 

Beijing argues that besides US and Japan, 18 other nations have such security zones beyond their coastal waters. 

The Japanese zone was extended few times including in 2010 covering the disputed islands.  Both Chinese and Japanese ADIZs overlap in the area. 

Yang defended the Chinese zone, which covers nearly one million square miles of airspace, saying it is completely justified and legitimate.

Yang refuted Japanese criticism that China had altered the status quo unilaterally by announcing the ADIZ. 

The Chinese move has dramatically escalated tensions in the region, with Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga saying, “We have continued our surveillance activities as before in the East China Sea, including in the zone.”

“We are not going to change this (activity) out of consideration to China,” he said.

Australia, the Philippines and Taiwan have criticised China's move, saying it compromises regional security.