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China’s military
ChinaMilitary

China slams ‘provocative’ Canadian military plane ‘intrusion’ after close call during UN surveillance mission

  • Foreign ministry says a CP-140 reconnaissance plane undermined national security during flight near China’s coast, lodges ‘stern representations’ with Canada
  • Ottawa calls Chinese interception over international waters ‘unacceptable, dangerous and reckless’

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China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a Canadian CP-140 aircraft “illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace, while Canadian officials said the plane was on a UN mission over international waters. Photo: Weibo
Seong Hyeon Choi

China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday described a Canadian military aircraft reconnaissance mission off the Chinese coast as “provocative”, while Ottawa criticised the “dangerous” interception of the aircraft by Chinese fighter pilots.

Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a press briefing on Tuesday that “a Canadian CP-140 aircraft illegally intruded” into Chinese airspace in the East China Sea near the disputed Diaoyu Islands – known in Japan as the Senkakus – “seriously violating China’s sovereignty and threatening China’s national security”.

“In response to Canada’s provocative behaviour, China has lodged stern representations with Canada, and the Chinese military has also taken necessary measures on the spot,” said Mao.

“The truth of the matter is that Canadian military aircraft travelled thousands of miles to cause trouble and provocation at China’s doorstep … Canada should respect objective facts and stop spreading false information.”

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Mao said that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions have never authorised any country to deploy military forces in the sea and air under the jurisdiction of other countries or carry out espionage and surveillance activities.

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