Japan-China row over China air zone

China and Japan raised the temperature in a territorial dispute yesterday with both sides summoning the other's ambassador over Beijing's declaration of an air defence zone, a move Tokyo called "profoundly dangerous".
The diplomatic scuffle came after Washington said it would stand by Japan in any military clash over the Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims as the Diaoyus, and as Seoul and Taipei voiced their disquiet at China's weekend announcement.
"I am strongly concerned as it is a profoundly dangerous act that may cause unintended consequences," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament.
"Japan will ask China to restrain itself while we continue cooperating with the international community," he said.
The comments are the first from the premier on the issue since Beijing on Saturday said it had established an Air Defence Identification Zone.
The zone covers the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands, where ships and aircraft from the two countries already shadow each other in a potentially dangerous confrontation.
Tokyo called in Beijing's ambassador to demand a roll-back of the plan which it said would "interfere with freedom of flight over the high seas", but reportedly received short shrift from Cheng Yonghua, who said Tokyo should retract its "unreasonable demand".