China reiterated it would ignore an unfavourable court ruling on its maritime claims in the South China Sea, and warned its neighbours it would “take all necessary measures” to protect Chinese interests there.

In a day of sabre rattling and veiled threats, foreign minister Liu Zhenmin on Wednesday said China had the right to create an Air Defence Identification Zone in the South China Sea, effectively claiming the airspace over the region.

China’s claims to 85 per cent of the territory of the South China Sea were badly dented by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which on Tuesday ruled in favour of the Philippines in a case brought three years ago. The court said there was no legal basis for Beijing’s claims to almost the entire Sea.