In a recent development that has heightened tensions between Canada and China, Beijing has accused a Canadian aircraft of illegally intruding into its territorial airspace. This accusation comes a day after Ottawa labeled China's interception of its military plane over the East China Sea as "dangerous and reckless."
According to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, the "illegal intrusion of a Canadian CP-140 aircraft into the airspace of Chiwei Yu (Taisho in Japan), an affiliated island of China's Diaoyu Yao (Senkaku Islands in Japan), on October 14 seriously violates China's sovereignty." Mao further stated that the Canadian warplane had initiated a provocation by intruding into the airspace of Chiwei Yu, prompting the Chinese military to respond in accordance with the law.
The Senkaku Islands, known as Diaoyu Yao in China, have long been a point of contention between China and Japan. Beijing asserts that the island group is an integral part of Taiwan, which it consistently claims as an "inalienable" part of China.
Mao criticized Canada for sending warplanes "halfway around the world to stir up trouble and make provocations at China's doorsteps." She urged Ottawa to "respect the facts and stop spreading disinformation." Mao also highlighted that Canadian military aircraft have frequently provoked Beijing in recent years "in the name of implementing UN Security Council resolutions."
This stern message from Beijing followed a report by Global News, which detailed how Chinese military warplanes intercepted a Canadian military aircraft in international airspace. Maj. Gen. Iain Huddleston, the commander of Canada's 1st Air Division, expressed his concerns about the aggressive behavior of the Chinese warplanes, describing it as "unsafe and unprofessional."
Reports suggest that at least two Chinese warplanes intercepted the Canadian surveillance aircraft for several hours, coming perilously close, within about five meters of the Canadian plane. Canada's Defense Minister, Bill Blair, expressed his deep concerns about the incident, labeling it as "dangerous and reckless."
In the wake of this incident, the Pentagon released declassified images and footage showcasing 15 recent cases of what they described as "coercive and risk operational behavior" by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) against U.S. aircraft operating in international airspace across the East and South China Sea regions.
Relations between Canada and China have been strained, leading to a series of diplomatic expulsions earlier this year. After Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat over alleged foreign interference in May, Beijing retaliated in kind. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, addressing the situation, stated that while Canada understands "there is retaliation," it "will not be intimidated."
