Two unarmed U.S. B-52 bombers Tuesday entered China's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on the East China Sea without informing Chinese authority, according to U.S. media reports.

East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone [Xinhuanet.com]

"Last night we conducted a training exercise that was long-planned. It involved two aircraft flying from Guam and returning to Guam," said Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren.

Warren said the U.S. did not inform China of the flight plan in advance and the mission was carried out without incident.

Last Saturday the Chinese government issued a statement on establishing the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone and an announcement on aircraft identification rules and a diagram for the zone.

According to aircraft identification rules, any aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should report the flight plans to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The aims of the zone "are to protect China's state sovereignty and territorial and airspace safety," and such a move did not target any specific nation and "will not affect the freedom of over-flight in relevant airspace," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Sunday.

Qin said the establishment of the air zone complies with the Charter of the United Nations and international laws and practices.

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