Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin was at the briefing. He responded to questions about an Air Defense Identification Zone and the future military deployment in the South China Sea.

"As to whether China will set up an Air Defense Identification Zone, let me first say that China has the right to do so. This is not a system invented by China, but by some other major countries," said Liu.

"We have set up an ADIZ in the East China Sea. And whether we will set up another one in the South China Sea will depend on the degree of threat we are facing. If our security is threatened we will do so, but our decision will be based on a host of factors and overall considerations."