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 over international waters, coming within 16 feet during a U.N. operation enforcing sanctions against North Korea.
The Canadian defense minister deemed the aggressive interception unprofessional and unacceptable, with one Chinese jet reportedly armed and flying aggressively, putting the Canadian crew at significant risk.
This incident is not isolated, as Chinese military aircraft previously conducted similar dangerous and unprofessional interceptions of Canadian planes on U.N. missions 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.