The U.S. and Japanese governments' split over how commercial airlines should operate in China's self-declared air-defense zone has put carriers at the center of an escalating political dispute.
The U.S. State Department has urged airlines to notify Chinese authorities before flying through the zone, while Japan pressed its carriers to stop supplying such flight data. China created the zone over an area that includes islands in the East China Sea claimed by both the Asian nations.
Tension over territorial disputes with neighbors has in the past drawn Japan closer to the U.S., which maintains troops and airbases around the archipelago. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will seek clarification from Chinese leaders on their intentions in imposing the zone when he visits Japan, China and South Korea this week.
"Policy execution based on cooperation between Japan and the U.S. is the most important thing, especially for the aviation industry," said Haruo Ushiba, a director at Japan Aviation Management Research in Tokyo. "This rare crack in the U.S.-Japan alliance must be carefully examined."
ANA Holdings Inc. (9202) and Japan Airlines Co. have stopped sharing flight plans with Chinese authorities after earlier agreeing to do so as Japan denounced China's move.
Source: NewsOnjapan
