DHAKA: Japan’s defence minister said on Saturday that China’s recently declared maritime air defence zone over the East China Sea raises regional tensions and that the international community must oppose any move to establish a similar zone over the South China Sea.

Defence minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters after meeting with Philippine defence secretary Voltaire Gazmin that he and Gazmin discussed reports that China is considering establishing a similar zone over the South China Sea.

‘Any unilateral establishment of an ADIZ in any area would bring up tensions over the area. Therefore we have concerns over such development,’ Onodera said through an interpreter, reports The Straits Times.

When asked to comment about concerns about China possibly setting up a zone over the South China Sea, China’s ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing said on Monday that it was China’s right to decide ‘where and when to set up’ an air identification zone.

She would not say, however, whether China would set up a zone over the South China Sea.

BDST: 2034 HRS, DEC 07, 2013