China regrets S Korean decision to expand air defence zone overlapping Beijing's

China has expressed regret over the decision of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to expand its air defense identification zone (KADIZ), a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Spokesman Hong Lei said that China and the ROK have maintained communication over the establishment of China's ADIZ and the expansion of the KADIZ in line with the principle of equality and mutual respect, the China Daily reports.

Hong said that the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry have stated their position to the ROK and urged them to cautiously and properly handle the issues.

The statement came after the ROK announced a southward expansion of the KADIZ, encompassing submerged rocks within the overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the ROK and China on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the ROK Defense Ministry said that its eastern and western boundaries remained the same as before, and that the new zone would be effective from December 15.

Hong affirmed that the claimed Suyan Rock is an isolated underwater reef and not a territory. Thus, territorial claims don't apply on it, instead it is a consensus between China and the ROK.