China slams US over South China Sea air zone remarks

China today slammed the US as "extremely irresponsible" for accusing Beijing over its reported plan to set up an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the disputed South China Sea.
"Some US diplomats have made groundless accusations against China without verifying the claim," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.
Last week, Japan's daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported that China had drafted proposals for an ADIZ over the South China Sea.
Danny Russel, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, repeated warnings to China not to impose an ADIZ, which would call on planes to report to Beijing, over the South China Sea, where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei contest China's claims over the area.

Hong said the allegations are aimed to shift international attention from and cover up the plot to change Japan's pacifist constitution and expand its military power.
China, as a sovereign country, has legitimate rights to adopt all measures, including setting up an ADIZ, to safeguard national security. No one should make irresponsible comments on this, he said.

"We hope the US can do more to contribute to the healthy and stable growth of our relationship," Hong said.
He also criticised Philippine President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino over his remarks comparing the Philippines' status in territorial disputes in the South China Sea to Czechoslovakia before World War II.

"Such a comparison is ridiculously inconceivable and unreasonable. The Chinese side is shocked and dissatisfied," he said in response to a question.
China always steadily maintains international justice and has made huge sacrifices and indelible historical contributions for the victory of the world's anti-Fascist war, he said.
Aquino, in an interview with the New York Times, compared the Philippines to former Czechoslovakia and urged for more global support.
"The disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea were caused by the Philippines' illegal occupation of some islands belonging to China's Nansha Islands. The facts are clear.
"We hope the Philippine side will correct its mistakes and work with us to jointly maintain the peace and stability of the region," Hong said.