Taiwan has said it will not acknowledge any air defence zones declared by China relating to the South China Sea . The move prompts fears of a fresh wave of regional tension . China claims much of the South China Sea , which is a lucrative shipping route , but Taiwan 's Defence Minister , Feng Shih - kuan , told parliament : “ We do not recognize any air defense identification zone ( ADIZ ) by China . ” The comments came after Taiwan’s new government of President Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, was sworn in last month. China has not confirmed or denied plans to establish an ADIZ in the region , with a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman saying many factors needed to be taken into account , including the level of airborne weapons . “ Many countries have set up ADIZs . This has nothing to do with various countries ' territorial or maritime rights " , ” Hong Lei said .
Taiwan has said it will not acknowledge any air defence zones declared by China relating to the South China Sea . The move prompts fears of a fresh wave of regional tension . China claims much of the South China Sea , which is a lucrative shipping route , but Taiwan 's Defence Minister , Feng Shih - kuan , told parliament : “ We do not recognize any air defense identification zone ( ADIZ ) by China . ” China has not confirmed or denied plans to establish an ADIZ in the region , with a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman saying many factors needed to be taken into account , including the level of airborne weapons . “ Many countries have set up ADIZs . This has nothing to do with various countries ' territorial or maritime rights " , ” Hong Lei said .