Chinese jets make 'dangerous and reckless' intercept of Canadian surveillance flight: Blair

Members of the Canadian Forces work on a CP-140 Aurora surveillance plane in the Persian Gulf, Sunday, February 19, 2017. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)

A Canadian surveillance flight enforcing North Korea sanctions was intercepted by Chinese fighter jets on Monday, drawing criticism from Defence Minister Bill Blair.

"The interaction unfortunately that took place very recently is one that was not professional and not safe," Blair told reporters in Ottawa on Monday. "The actions of the Chinese military in these circumstances, I think, was unacceptable and put our aircraft and their mission at significant risk."

Chinese officials are accusing Canada of "spreading disinformation" and "jeopardizing (China's) national sovereignty and security."

The Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora aircraft was patrolling international airspace as part of Operation NEON, which is Canada's contribution to the UN mission to monitor sanctions against North Korea.

"Since 2018 and into 2026, Canada periodically deploys military ships, aircraft, and personnel to conduct surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the United Nations Security Council resolutions," a National Defence website explains.

While the Aurora flew over the East China Sea, Chinese warplanes reportedly came within five metres of the Canadian aircraft and even launched flares.

"I am very concerned of the unprofessional way in which this was done," Blair said. "It was quite frankly dangerous and reckless, and those types of behaviours are not ever acceptable and we will express that to the People's Republic of China in the most appropriate way."

Canadian Aurora aircraft have been intercepted numerous times by the Chinese military while participating in Operation NEON, including incidents in November 2022 and May 2023. An intercept occurs when one aircraft approaches another.

When joining the multinational UN mission, the long-range Aurora patrol aircraft typically flies from Japan. Accompanied by the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Vancouver, the Aurora is currently in the region until November 2023.

"The Canadian Armed Forces considers an intercepting aircraft’s actions to be unsafe when those actions place the RCAF aircraft in danger or cause the pilot to maneuver to avoid collision," a National Defence spokesperson told CTVNews.ca. "In this case, the Canadian aircraft was subject to multiple close-proximity manoeuvres by a (People’s Liberation Army Air Force) aircraft that put the safety of all personnel involved at unnecessary risk."

No one was injured in the incident.

In a statement to CTVNews.ca, China's embassy in Ottawa accused the Aurora of making an "illegal intrusion" into the airspace of an island that is part of a longstanding territorial dispute with Japan. Known as the Diaoyu Islands in China and the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the uninhabited islands are also claimed by Taiwan, which itself is claimed by the Chinese government in Beijing.

"What happened was that the Canadian side has sent warplanes halfway around the world to stir up trouble and make provocations at China’s doorsteps," an email from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada said. "The Chinese side responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations. The Canadian side should respect the facts and stop spreading disinformation."

The embassy spokesperson also questioned the mandate of the multinational effort to enforce UN resolutions against North Korea in airspace and waters near China.

"China is firmly opposed to any country jeopardizing our national sovereignty and security in the name of implementing resolutions," the spokesperson said. "China urges Canada to see the gravity of the incident and refrain from taking any adventurist or provocative moves."