China defended its army’s pilots on Monday, declaring that they were acting appropriately and were defending its sovereignty.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the actions of Chinese pilots towards Canadian planes that are participating in a United Nations mission “irresponsible and provocative.”
At a news event on Monday morning, Trudeau expressed his displeasure at the behavior of China towards Canadian planes taking part in an international UN mission in the Pacific Ocean to enforce sanctions against North Korea.
Members of the Canadian Forces work on a CP140 Aurora surveillance plane at the Canadian Forces base in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 19, 2017. Last week, the Canadian military accused Chinese planes of not following international safety norms on several occasions. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)
“China’s actions are irresponsible and provocative, and we will continue to register strongly that they are putting people at risk while at the same time not respecting decisions by the UN,” the Prime Minister declared.
Last week, the Canadian military claimed Chinese aircraft of not adhere to international safety standards in several instances, placing the lives of a Canadian crew in danger. On June 1 stated that the Chinese planes were trying to divert a Canadian long-range patrol plane from its route. The force needed to be able to swiftly change direction to avoid a possible collision.
“Such interactions … are of concern and increasing frequency,” the statement stated.
It was reported that the Canadian plane was in operation between April 26 and May 26 to join other countries in observing fuel transfer between ships that could help North Korea evade UN sanctions concerning its nuclear and missile tests. Chinese ships could be implicated in fuel transfers. They are believed to be part of the transfer. U.S. and Japan have also been involved in the surveillance.
China defended the military’s pilots Monday, saying they had acted responsibly and were protecting the sovereignty of China in the wake of recent complaints from Canada and Australia that Chinese aircraft were involved in dangerous maneuvers with their planes over the Pacific.
Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian, the spokesperson for the Defence Ministry, said China “swiftly took reasonable, forceful and professional measures in response to Canada’s provocative acts and unfriendly and unprofessional operations.”
We declared in an announcement that Canada had increased its close monitoring of China under the pretense of the implementation of UN sanctions. Wu said Canada is responsible for any severe repercussions resulting from the dangerous and provocative actions.
A collision in 2001 between a U.S. surveillance plane and a Chinese military jet led to the fatality of the Chinese pilot and the ten-day arrest of China’s U.S. aircrew by China.
Australia is also highly critical of maneuvers.
In a different incident, newly-elected Australian Premier Anthony Albanese, on a trip to Indonesia on Monday, labeled the actions of a Chinese fighter jet as risky aggression in the face of one of the Australian air force planes that we’re conducting surveillance flights within the South China Sea.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles declared that the Chinese J-16 increased its speed and cut across the Australian plane, dispersing the trash and tiny bits of aluminum taken into the plane’s engine.
In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defence, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location. Australia on Sunday said a Chinese J-16 fighter jet carried out dangerous manouevres, following a similar criticism from Canada. (Taiwan Ministry of Defence/The Associated Press)
The Chinese Defence Ministry has not commented on the incident.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated that the Chinese military always conducts actions based upon international laws and practices professionally and safely.
“We urge Australia to respect China’s national security interests and major concerns and be cautious with its words and deeds to avoid a miscalculation that could cause serious consequences,” he added.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian attends a news conference in Beijing on Sept. 10, 2020. This week, he said China would not allow any country to violate its sovereignty in the name of freedom of navigation. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)
China has claimed many small islands and reefs within the South China Sea and declares that the area that surrounds these outcroppings is its airspace and territorial waters. These waters are a vital shipping route for all nations within the region, including Australia and Australia, and the United States says it wants to guarantee the access to navigation within them.
Zhao stated that China would not allow any country to infringe on its sovereignty for the right to navigation.
He also claimed that Canada of spreading misinformation and suggested that it take a more measured and sensible policy towards China and make concrete efforts to enhance relations between China and Canada.