China Claims Airspace Over Disputed Islands

China has laid claim to a block of airspace over islands in the East China Sea which are at the heart of a dispute with Japan.

The Xinhua news agency published a map and co-ordinates of the area it called "the East China Sea Air Defence Zone", as well as rules for aircraft in the area, which covers most of the sea.

It reported that China has threatened "defensive emergency measures" against aircraft which do not comply with new identification rules.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said the establishment of the zone was aimed at "safeguarding state sovereignty, territorial land and air security, and maintaining flight order".

Japan says it owns the islands and the Foreign Ministry has lodged a strong protest against the new zone, Kyodo news agency reported.

Ties between the Asian powers have been strained for months by the row over the islands, called the Diaoyu in China and the Senkaku in Japan, which are believed to be surrounded by energy-rich waters.

Patrol ships from both countries have been shadowing each other near the islets, raising fears that a confrontation could develop into a clash.

There have also been several incidents involving military aircraft flying close to each other.

In October, Chinese military aircraft flew near Japan for three days in a row.

Japan scrambled fighter jets each time in response.

The Chinese rules mean aircraft have to report flight plans to China's Foreign Ministry or civil aviation administration, maintain radio contact and reply promptly to identification inquiries, keep radar transponders turned on and bear clear markings of their nationality and registration.