Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BEIJING (AP) - China says it is fully capable of enforcing its newly declared maritime air defense zone that has drawn strong denunciations from the U.S., Japan and other nations.
Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng says Beijing has unwavering determination to ensure its demands are met. China declared the zone over the East China Sea late last month and said all aircraft entering the vast area must identify themselves and follow Chinese instructions.
Geng says China's military is "fully capable of exercising effective control" over the area, which covers disputed islands and overlaps with similar zones declared by Japan and South Korea.
Geng's remarks were published Wednesday as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was arriving in Beijing to meet with President Xi Jinping. On Tuesday, Biden said China's move raised regional tensions.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
![modal](https://img.ksl.com/slc/2548/254870/25487033.jpg)