MALAYSIA SCRAMBLED its fighter jets following an intrusion of at least 16 Chinese air force planes into the country’s airspace.
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| A plane with a Chinese flag on its tail is seen in this handout picture, May 31, 2021, obtained by Reuters June 2, 2021. (Royal Malaysian Air Force Handout) |
Kuala Lumpur described the intrusion as a “serious threat to national sovereignty and flight safety” after Chinese planes flew within 60 nautical miles off Sarawak in Borneo.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said it would summon China’s envoy to
explain the intrusion into its airspace which coincided with suspicious
activity over the South China Sea.
The Chinese planes did not contact regional air
traffic control despite being instructed several times, the air force said.
Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysia
will issue a note of diplomatic protest and ask China’s ambassador to explain
the “breach of the Malaysian airspace and sovereignty.”
“Malaysia’s stand is clear, having friendly
diplomatic relations with any countries does not mean that we will compromise
on our national security,” the Malaysian news agency Bernama quoted Hishammuddin
as saying.
China’s embassy said the air force planes conducted routine flight
training and strictly abided by international law without violating airspace of
other countries. “China and Malaysia are friendly neighbours, and China is
willing to continue bilateral friendly consultations with Malaysia to jointly
maintain regional peace and stability,” an embassy spokesperson said.
Malaysia's air force said the planes, comprising
Ilyushin il-76 and Xian Y-20 strategic transporters, had travelled in an “in-trail”
tactical formation at between 23,000 and 27,000 feet.
Last year, a Chinese survey ship held a month-long
standoff with a Malaysian oil exploration vessel within Malaysia’s exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).
Malaysia's move follows months of diplomatic
protests by the Philippines over the presence of hundreds of Chinese fishing
boats in its EEZ, which it says are manned by militias. China has largely
ignored the complaints.
China has been pushing an expansive claim over the South China Sea,
through which about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually. It
has also built military facilities on manmade islands.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and
Vietnam also have claims to various islands and features in the area and
China's coastguard routinely warns foreign boats and aircraft to leave what it
calls its territory. (Bernama, Rhoderick Benez and Malou Cablinda)
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