Intimidation Driven by Internal Uncertainty

The Defense Ministry of China announced that it had set its air defense identification zone over East China Sea, overlapping Japan’s own. That included Senkaku Islands, the territory of Japan to which China began to claim its sovereignty. The ministry told that it would take defensive measures, if an aircraft entered in the area had failed to report flight plan. The Government of Japan expressed its objection against the action by the Chinese government. This unilateral action to change current order in Northeast Asia will further alienate the administration of Xi Jinping.

ADIZ is area set outside of territory to prepare for areal invasion to territory. Not being internationally authorized concept, some countries including Japan established it after the United States had set it for the first time in 1950s.

Defense Ministry of China explained the purpose of establishing ADIZ as to maintain areal order by protecting its sovereignty and territorial safety. It justified its action to be meeting international law and practices, citing the fact that over twenty countries had already set ADIZ. Although the ministry insisted on targeting no specific country, it appealed that “Related country had already established ADIZ in 1969,” indicating a countermeasure against Japan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan disputed against the measure through Chinese Embassy in Japan. After Chinese aircrafts invaded Japan’s territory around Senkaku for the first time last December, Japan’s Air Self-defense Force scrambled against them several times. China’s demarcation of ADIZ may introduce unexpected collision between fighter jets of both countries.

Main reason of establishing ADIZ would not be for sending an international message, but internal one. Xi administration was shocked by the incident of explosion in front of Tinanmen Square earlier this month. The biggest uncertainty for Chinese government is about how to unite its republic. Whenever Chinese administration tries to ease its internal pressure, it always looks for some solution in outer world. This tendency of activity had historically been inviting troubles with neighbors. As long as China is containing its problem within its territory, its friends will support it. Simply emerged from internal political power struggle, Xi Jinping is not a leader able to make it.

However Xi encouraged his nation to go forward to achieve China’s dream, this nation had never embraced one common dream. What he should do is taking on more complicated job, coexistence with others that possess different idea.