China criticises ‘malicious’ Canada air patrol

BEIJING: China on Saturday accused Canada of conducting a “malicious and provocative” air patrol over the disputed South China Sea, after Ottawa rebuked Beijing for what it described as a second risky midair intercept in two weeks.

Canada’s Defence Minister Bill Blair said Friday that a Chinese fighter jet twice flew close to a Canadian Cyclone helicopter over the Paracel Islands on October 29, firing flares “directly in front” of the craft on the second flyby.

The jet’s actions “were deemed to be significantly unsafe”, Blair said of the incident, which followed a similar near-miss over another disputed waterway near China in mid-October.

Beijing hit back at Blair’s claims on Saturday, with a defence ministry spokesperson saying the Canadian helicopter conducted “a malicious and provocative act with ulterior motives”.

“Recently, ship-borne helicopters on Canada’s HMCS Ottawa made two sorties towards the airspace around China’s Xisha Islands, with unknown intentions,” Zhang Xiaogang said in an online statement, using the Chinese name for the Paracels.

“China’s People’s Liberation Army organised naval and air forces to identify and verify (the craft) in accordance with the law, and issued multiple warnings,” Zhang said.

“However, the Canadian helicopter not only refused to respond, but also took provocative actions such as flying at ultra-low altitudes,” he added. “Afterwards, (Canada) wantonly hyped the event and made accusations and smears against China in the media,” Zhang claimed.

“Canada’s actions violated China’s domestic laws and international law, endangered China’s sovereignty and security,” he said.

“We urge the Canadian side... to strictly curb the actions of frontline sea and air forces to prevent accidents at sea and in the air.”

The HMCS Ottawa was transiting the South China Sea as part of attempts by the United States and its allies to cement its status as an international waterway.

People’s Republic of China says there is one China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the Government of People’s Republic of China.