DHAKA: Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said on Sunday he would discuss China’s expansion of its air defence zone with US vice president Joe Biden in Tokyo to coordinate their stance after apparently contradictory responses.

China raised regional tensions with its declaration on November 23 of the zone, which covers islands in the East China Sea at the centre of a dispute between Beijing and Tokyo.

It demands that all aircraft submit flight plans when traversing the area.

Tokyo has stopped Japanese airlines from submitting flight plans to Beijing, but Washington said on Friday it generally expected US carriers to ‘operate consistent with’ notification policies issued by foreign countries.

‘We want to hold consultation with US Vice President Biden who will visit Japan this week and deal with the matter by coordinating closely between Japan and the United States,’ Abe said, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2012 HRS, DEC 01, 2013