Air identification zone 'beneficial to safety'(2)

Jin Canrong, a professor of international studies at Renmin University of China, said the absence of a joint statement, which was pursued by Tokyo, showed that Washington is now leading the current situation and is unwilling to be hijacked by the Japanese agenda.

Washington's policy regarding this issue shows its diplomatic pragmatism, Jin said.

"Politically, the White House objects to the zone. Militarily, the Pentagon not only objects to it, but is also trying to seek a breakthrough. But on the civilian level, the US wants to cooperate with China in order to avoid economic damage," he said.

Niu Xinchun, a senior expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that the US and Japan have overlapping interests in terms of their discontent with China's air zone.

"Washington is afraid that its free navigation in the Asia-Pacific region might be affected by the zone. After all, US naval and air forces have enjoyed free passage for the past three decades," Niu said.

"However, Washington disagrees with Tokyo in playing up regional tensions by exaggerating the threat of the zone, which in fact has been an international practice," he added.

Hong also called for world understanding and cooperation regarding China's designation, saying the zone, in line with international law and not targeting any specific country, will not affect the freedom of flight in the airspace.

So far, more than 55 airlines from 19 countries and three regions have reported their flight plans to the Chinese authorities, according to the spokesman.

Biden called on Beijing and Tokyo to establish crisis-management and confidence-building measures to lower tensions.

"I will reaffirm the strength of our alliance commitments and emphasize the importance of avoiding actions that could undermine peace, security and prosperity in the region," Biden told the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun ahead of the tour.

One day earlier, the US Navy dispatched its first advanced P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft to Okinawa, Japan, the start of a deployment that will upgrade Washington's ability to hunt submarines and other vessels, Reuters said.

Since Beijing announced the zone in late November, Tokyo, Seoul and Washington have all sent military or paramilitary planes through it in shows of defiance.