Today, we bring you awareness of another term in International Politics. Air Defence Identification Zone. So, what is an Air Defence Identification Zone?
An air defence identification zone is an area outside of a country’s territory and national airspace – but where foreign aircraft are still identified, monitored, and controlled in the interest of national security.
How are they created?
It is self-declared and technically remains international airspace.
Are they universally recognised by sovereign states?
It depends. For instance, Taiwan – which officially calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), and sees itself as a sovereign state – created one.
But China (officially the People’s Republic of China – PRC) doesn’t recognise it because it sees Taiwan as a province within the People’s Republic.
Recently, Chinese military aircraft conducted war games in Taiwan’s self-declared Air Defence Identification Zone. Taiwan in response scrambled its jets and monitored the exercise.
Do you think the response would have been different if China’s had actually flown over Taiwanese territory, rather than the Air Defence Identification Zone? Tell us in the comments.
