US Vice-President Joe Biden stopped short of calling for China to dismantle its new air defence identification zone (ADIZ) during his trip to Beijing last week. But it is clear from subsequent news reports that the air defence zone was discussed during the five-hour meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In any event, the United States has made clear its own position on the issue by flying two B-52 bombers through the zone without seeking China's permission.

Beijing has taken comfort from the fact that since the announcement of its East China Sea ADIZ, a majority of civil aviation companies with their air routes traversing the area have reported flight plans to China's civil aviation department. China's air force says it will conduct regular air patrols covering its zone and, more ominously, warned that combat aircraft would "strengthen monitoring" of the zone, whatever that means.

At the same time, Beijing disavows any intention to annex the air space (or the sea area within its demarcation) as Chinese territory. As well, it wants the US to act as an honest broker to make contributions to regional peace and stability, according to a report by Xinhua, China's official news agency. Clearly, the Xinhua report was a reaction to US Secretary of State John Kerry's accusation that China was attempting to change the status quo in the East China Sea.