July 14, 2016

"China could set up an air defense identification zone over the South China Sea if it felt threatened, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday amid rising maritime tensions caused by the Philippines' arbitration case.

The declaration of such a zone, which would require aircraft entering the zone to identify themselves to the military, will depend on 'the level of threat we receive', said Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.

'If our security is being threatened, of course we have the right to demarcate a zone. This would depend on our overall assessment,' Liu said, adding that other countries should not 'take this opportunity to threaten China' and not 'let it become the origin of a war'.

'China's aim is to turn the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation,' he added."

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http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2016-07/14/content_26080422.htm