Seoul expands its air space and increases the tension in Southeast Asia

The decision, taken by South Korea , to widen its area of ​​aerial identification is unprecedented recent , if not in 1951 , during the Korean War , even the delicate situation , which is repeated several times , with North Korea , provoked by Seoul such a decision . The measure was decided , however, in response to a similar decision by China , in recent days, taken from inside the issue of disputed islands with Japan. However, the new perimeter of aerial identification , designed by Beijing overlaps a portion of the sea considered the exclusive territory by South Koreans . China's decision had already caused the Japanese reaction , which resulted with the overflight of military aircraft and the prohibition on commercial airplanes Japanese to communicate flight plans to the Chinese authorities . The issue is very worrying Washington, which did not get much from the visit to Beijing by Vice President Biden : the Chinese are invariably remained on their positions . Despite the decision of South Korea will come into force from December 15 , Seoul has already made military aircraft from flying over the area , entered the Chinese perimeter without notice. China , such incursions Japanese , did not react , but this new development raises further tension in the region . From the diplomatic point of view , we are facing a situation, which at the moment seems to be no way out , but literally on the verge of an accident that can trigger serious consequences. The U.S. position is well known: Washington supports Japanese and South Korean positions , without recognizing the reasons for the Chinese , but called on all actors involved to use all diplomatic channels available to ease the tension. The United States, in fact intend to use this situation to reiterate the importance of the region in their foreign policy agenda and to interpret in depth the role of primary importance that you have data in the area, justified by geopolitical and economic reasons . Among the many reasons there is just the need to limit China, which is trying geographically contiguous areas , to extend its influence. The centrality of the U.S. alliance with Tokyo and Seoul can not but have influenced the decision of the action to be taken by Japan and South Korea If , on the one hand the United States, maintain a profile , but still substantially lower , by ' on the other hand it is possible that the move to Seoul has been agreed with the administration in the White House . Without getting to dangerous developments that may affect the arms , the aim would be to provoke such reactions , which fall in the jurisdiction of international law, to isolate , from the diplomatic point of view , the unilateral action of China. This hypothesis could be supported by the sensation felt in Seoul , that the measure should not lead to a deterioration in relations with China , because the statement made by the South Korean defense ministry spokesman , who said that the measure does not result in restrictions on commercial aircraft and does not violate the airspace of neighboring countries, has been integrated with the intention of discussing with neighboring countries about measures to be taken to prevent accidents military certainly not desired . It is therefore a softer attitude to the one used by Japan, which , however, is directly interested in the dispute archipelago. It remains to be seen how China, which has held up to now an attitude that gives a glimpse of openings for concessions or setbacks . The impression is that the dispute with Korea is easily solved with a mutual recognition of the use of the airspace , but the issue with Japan can not be resolved except by an international arbitration , able to take into account all aspects of problem , starting with the historical ones . Conversely, the situation is , at best , to remain in a dangerous unstable equilibrium , even if the Court finds, that the economic relations that bind the two countries should in the end be more important than a contention that seems to become more and more reason of principle.