BEIJING - China on Saturday urged the United States to drop irresponsible remarks on the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea to avoid detriment to stability in the region.

"It is a legitimate right for China, as a sovereign state, to set up the Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, adding that the establishment of the ADIZ is in line with international law and norms.

Hong made the remarks when answering a question on US Secretary of State John Kerry's stance about the China ADIZ.

On Friday, Kerry told reporters after a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida that the United States neither recognizes nor accepts China's declared East China Sea ADIZ and that the United States has no intention of changing how it conducts operations in the region.

Hong said the United States, which set up its ADIZ as early as six decades ago, has no right to criticize China's legitimate move.

China announced the establishment of the East China Sea ADIZ in November 2013.

"We urge the US side to stop making irresponsible remarks so as not to harm regional stability and the China-US relationship, " added the spokesman.