China monitors Air Defense Identification Zone

BEIJING - China's airforce has dispatched another patrol to monitor its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea and issue warnings to foreign military jets in the zone, it said on Friday.

Chinese air force planes have been regularly patrolling the ADIZ since it was established two months ago.

The routine patrols have beefed up China's effective control over the ADIZ, air force spokesman colonel Shen Jinke said.

On a recent patrol, multiple types of Chinese aircraft were sent to "monitor, identify, track and warn" multiple types of foreign military planes that had entered the ADIZ, Shen added, according to an article in the official Liberation Daily posted on the Ministry of National Defense's website.

The spokesman reaffirmed that the establishment of the ADIZ is a purely defensive move that confirms to international practices.

Normal flights by international airlines have not been affected in the zone over the past two months, Shen said.