When asked about Pentagon-confirmed reports that two U.S. military aircraft flew around the Diaoyu islands, China's ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Jieyi, said it is of China’s legitimate right to defend its airspace.
The Chinese Defense Ministry has already made it clear that the establishment of the sea air defense identification zone aims to set aside time for early warning of potential threats and helps defend the country's airspace.
"Well it’s natural, it’s indeed the right of every country to defend its airspace and also make sure that its territorial integrity, its sovereignty are safeguarded. This is a normal arrangement and I think the spokesperson from the Defense Ministry of China has already made that very clear," Liu said.
"I think you can check with that statement and find out why it is the right of China and indeed it is the right for countries to make sure that its sovereignty and its airspace is safe."
Source: Xinhua
