Malaysia link scrambled jetslink to intercept 16 Chineselink militarylink aircraft off the country’s coast inthe South China Sea, a rare incident that the foreign minister angrilydenounced Tuesday as an “intrusion”.
It took place Monday off the Malaysian part of Borneo island over thefiercely contested waters, where China and Malaysialink have overlapping territorial claims.
The Chinese link air force transportplanes approached Malaysian airspace in “tactical formation” and flew towithin about 60 nautical miles of the coast, Malaysialink air force said in a statement.
They were spotted by radar and several attempts were made to contact theplanes, but they did not turn back.
As they approached, the Malaysian air force sent planes to intercept andidentify them, before they flew off.
The air force described the appearance of the planes as “suspicious”.
The aircraft did not enter Malaysian airspace over the country’sterritorial waters.
But Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said they had flown over Malaysialink “maritime zone” — an areaextending much further from the coast — and described it as an “intrusion”.
The foreign ministry will lodge a protest with Beijing and summon theChinese link for an “explanationregarding this breach of the Malaysian airspace and sovereignty,” he saidin a statement.
“Malaysia’s stand is clear — having friendly diplomatic relations with anycountries does not mean that we will compromise our national security,” hesaid.
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“Malaysia remains steadfast in defending our dignity and our sovereignty.”
China has laid claim to nearly all of the South China Sea and has builtnumerous military link outposts on smallislands and atolls, angering other countries with competing claims to thewaters.
Despite their overlapping claims, relations between Malaysialink and China are usually cordial, andMonday’s incident was unusual.
There have been tensions in the area in the past, however.
Last year, a Chinese link survey ship hada long standoff with a Malaysian oil exploration vessel off Borneo.
Other claimants in the sea include Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei andTaiwan.
The United States has also sent warships through the waters to assertinternational rights to freedom of navigation, angering China. -APP/AFP
