Press Releases

1. On November 29 (local time), the 200th Session of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was held in Montreal, Canada. In the wake of the announcement of the “East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone” by the People’s Republic of China on November 23, the representative from the Delegation of Japan to ICAO brought up the issue of the relationship between freedom of overflight of the high seas and air defense identification zones. The representative pointed out that, depending on the measures related to the air defense identification zones each country takes, the order and safety of international civil aviation could be endangered. The representative then suggested considering what ICAO could do, in a manner consistent with its objectives, concerning this issue, with a view to ensuring freedom of overflight of the high seas.

2. There were remarks by other member states of the Council, which appreciated the remarks by Japan, as well as remarks on the importance of deepening understanding on the relationship between flight information regions and air defense identification zones, while bearing in mind the scope of the responsibility of ICAO.

3. The Council took note of the remarks from Japan and other member states. The handling of this issue will be considered among the member states of the Council of ICAO.