Feud over airspace in East China

    Tension between China and Japan is rising in the wake of recent events. China has declared a new air defense zone that overlaps airspace that Japan has claimed. Both countries are trying to claim the islands that occupy the disputed space. 
    The tension started to rise this past year when Chinese and Japanese airplanes would fly in close quarters over the islands. Japan believes the islands are theirs, there is nothing to discuss and that the Chinese planes were flying in their air defense zone. 
    Apparently, this move by the Chinese government was approved by President Xi Jinping who has shown a hatred for Japan. It would seem that China has two agendas with this move. The first being to get Japan to recognize there is a dispute and thereby pulling them into negotiations. The other is to establish China's own air defense zone. It is seeking to be a "maritime strong power". By claiming the island China would extend its boundaries and breakthrough to the ocean.
    Vice President Joe Biden has gone to Asia and part of his trip will be spent addressing the air zone issue between the two countries. The first part of accomplishing this goal will have to be reassuring Japan of America's commitment to the region. Japan's confidence in America wavered after American airlines were advised to comply with the Chinese regulations over the area and identify themselves before entering. The State Department has said that the advise was purely a safety recommendation and did not mean they were recognizing the Chinese air defense control. 
    The second part of controlling the situation is going to be convincing the Chinese that their move was one of provocation and will be disregarded as far a military options are concerned. The Chinese' move is a huge change in the norm and concerns people about their intentions. Although Biden will not give a formal diplomatic protest he will make it clear that the U.S "will keep sending military aircraft into the declared zone." It is up to Vice President Biden to solidify America's resolve in maintaining its military presence and to work with China to bring and end to their "unilateral actions".