Japanese carriers adhere to China's air zone

TOKYO - Two of Japan's top airlines have been reporting their fight plans to China following the demarcation by Beijing of its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), representatives for the carriers said Tuesday.

Japan Airlines (JAL) said flight details have been given as requested since Saturday, whereas All Nippon Airways has provided flight specifics since Sunday, the carriers said.

Both carriers fly to destinations including Taiwan and Hong Kong, the airlines' officials said, with both companies stating that the continued compliance would take into consideration -- as the top priority going forward -- the safety of their passengers.

But as the airlines comply to China's ADIZ, the Japanese government said Tuesday that carriers here need not file their flight plans with Chinese authorities in advance as China has requested.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday said the transport ministry had informed the airline companies here that Japan does not recognize China's new ADIZ.

The top government spokesperson also said he hoped that Japanese airlines would follow the government's position on the issue, stating that Japan has notified China that all its commercial flights through China's new ADIZ will continue to follow prior, conventional flight routes, without deviation.

Suga said he hopes that civilian flights will suffer no disruption as China has made it clear that its plans are not directed at any specific country and not aimed particularly at commercial flights carrying civilians.