The interception of a Canadian military aircraft by Chinese warplanes over international waters on Monday was “dangerous and reckless,” said the Canadian government, which has had very tense diplomatic relations with China for months.
“I am very concerned about the unprofessional way this has unfolded. “It was, to be honest, dangerous and reckless,” said Defense Secretary Bill Blair.
The latter was questioned by journalists after press articles reported that a Chinese jet came within five meters of a Canadian surveillance plane taking part in a United Nations operation to enforce sanctions against South Korea.
The incident occurred over international waters off the coast of China, according to Canadian media that had journalists on board the plane.
“This type of behavior is in no way acceptable and we will communicate this to the People’s Republic of China in the most appropriate way,” the minister continued.
Sino-Canadian relations deteriorated significantly five years ago when Canada arrested telecommunications giant Huawei’s finance director Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States.
A few days after that arrest, two Canadians, businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig, were arrested in China, a move that was widely seen at the time as retaliation.
Although these three people have now been released, tensions remain between the two countries. Beijing accuses Ottawa of aligning itself with Washington’s Chinese policies, and Canadian authorities regularly accuse China of interfering in its public affairs.