Chinese Fighters Accused of Intercepting Canadian Surveillance Aircraft

The Canadian military aircraft and a Chinese jet came within 16 feet of each other over international waters, according to reports.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 01:23 PM ET

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Royal Canadian Air Force Lockheed CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Chinese fighter jets "dangerously and recklessly" intercepted a Canadian military surveillance aircraft (CP-140 Aurora) over international waters while it was participating in a UN operation enforcing sanctions against North Korea.
The incident involved Chinese jets coming within 16 feet of the Canadian aircraft, one reportedly armed, prompting Canada's defense minister to condemn the behavior as "unprofessional" and unacceptable.
This is not an isolated event; China has been accused of similar dangerous and unprofessional interceptions of Canadian military aircraft on UN missions in the past, including in June 2022.

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Chinese fighter jets were “dangerous and reckless” when they intercepted a Canadian military surveillance aircraft taking part in a United Nations operation over international waters off the coast of China earlier this week, according to a top Canadian military official.

According to Canada defense minister Bill Blair, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Lockheed CP-140 Aurora and a jet at one point came within 16 feet of each other during the incident, which put the Canadian crew aboard the aircraft at significant risk, Reuters reported.