China's Foreign Ministry has said that the establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone is the right of a Sovereign State. This comes in response to Philippine military officials saying at a parliamentary hearing that China intends to set up an Air Defense Identification Zone in the South China Sea.

" Establishing the Air Defense Identification Zone is the right of a Sovereign State, and China certainly has such a right. However, as we mentioned earlier, whether we set up an ADIZ depends on whether our air traffic safety has been put under threat, the level of the threat, and other aspects. Of course we think the situation in the South China Sea is briefly stable. China has a good relationship with ASEAN countries and both sides intend to work for common benefits and to maintain peace and stability in the region.  In such circumstances, the people who tried to hype the ADIZ establishment in the South China Sea, apparently have ulterior motives," said Hua Chunying, sokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.