China refutes Australia's remarks over air defence identification zone

China on Wednesday refuted the Australian Foreign Minister's remarks over its newly established Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. "China has lodged solemn representations against Australia's remarks, and expressed its strong dissatisfaction," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang was quoted as saying. "It's totally wrong for Australia to make critical comments about China's establishment of the Air Defense Identification Zone, and China does not accept it," Qin said. "China urges Australia to correct mistakes immediately so as to avoid damage to bilateral cooperation," he said. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed concerns over China's defense measure in a statement on Tuesday. "Australia has made clear its opposition to any coercive or unilateral actions to change the status quo in the East China Sea," Bishop said. China's announcement was "unhelpful in light of current regional tensions, and will not contribute to regional stability," she added. China announced the establishment of the defense zone Saturday, which requires aircraft to report their flight plans and establish identification communications while flying through the zone. Japan, the US, South Korea have also expressed concern over establishment of China's air control zone that overlaps with those of Japan and South Korea. On Tuesday, the US flew a pair of B-52 bombers through the area in defiance of the move.