Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha
Beijing: Expressing US concerns over Chinese Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in Beijing, US Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that he had held direct talks with President Xi Jinping and conveyed his concerns in a firm way saying that the US does not recognise the zone.
Biden, who on the second leg of his three-nation Asia trip met Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday and held talks for five hours. Biden will later on Thursday reach South Korea to complete his Asia trip.
On Wednesday, after the talks, Biden and Xi did not mention the air zone dispute while talking to reporters.
However while addressing a group of American business leaders in Beijing, Biden said that Chinese air zone had "caused significant apprehension in the region," reported the BBC.
"I was very direct about our firm position and our expectations in my conversations with President Xi."
He added that China has "increasing responsibility to contribute positively to peace and security".
Earlier talking to the reporters after the meeting, Biden said, "This (US-China) is a hugely consequential bilateral relationship that is going to play a significant part in affecting the course of the 21st century".
"This new model of major-country cooperation ultimately has to be based on trust, and a positive notion about the motive of one another," he said.
Taling about the meeting, a US official told reporters that the two held a "back and forth" conversation on the air zone and Biden reiterated that the US did not recognize teh legitimacy of the requirements put by China for flights passing through the contentious zone.
Xi called Biden an "old friend" and told him, "You have long been committed to the growth of China-US relations and I commend you for the large amount of work you have taken."
Beijing`s foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday that at the meetings the Chinese side "stressed that China`s move is in accordance with international law and conventions and that the American side should take an objective and fair attitude".
China`s move to set up an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the disputed islands in the East China Sea has stirred a controversy with nations like Japan and South Korea slamming the aggression.
Though the US airlines are following Chinese guidelines when flying through the air zone, the US doesn`t recognise the Chinese air zone`s legitimacy.
The Chinese zone stretches for 600 miles above the disputed waters that separate Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan.
China says all airlines flying through its zone must abide by the instructions and notify in advance or face "defensive emergency measures".
