KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s authorities would issue a diplomatic protest against an”invasion” from 16 Chinese army aircraft to its airspace, ” the foreign ministry stated.
Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Tuesday he will ditch the Chinese ambassador to describe”this violation of their Malaysian airspace and sovereignty.” Malaysia’s aviation said its radar picked up the Chinese airplane Monday near Malaysian-administered Luconia Shoals, a rich fishing ground at the disputed South China Sea.
The Chinese airplanes then proceeded almost 60 nautical miles (110 km ) from the shore of Sarawak on Borneo island.
After efforts to get hold of the aircraft collapsed the air force delivered its fighter airplanes to spot them.
It stated they had been Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20 tactical transporters, flying between 23,000-27,000 ft (7,000-8,000 meters) _ elevation normally employed by commercial flights.
Malaysia called the episode a”serious danger to national sovereignty and airport security.” “Malaysia’s stance is apparent _ having favorable diplomatic relations with almost any states doesn’t imply that we’re going to undermine our national security,” Hishammuddin said in an declaration.
He said he’ll relay Malaysia’s serious issue on the issue into his counterpart.
There was no response from Beijing.
China maintains almost the full South China Sea on historical grounds.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims, and worries have awakened because China constructed several artificial islands and turned them into military outposts.
The strategically important place straddles a number of the world’s busiest sea lanes and can be full of fisheries and might hold subterranean petroleum and natural gas reserves.
Malaysia states Chinese coast guard and navy boats intruded to its waters from the South China Sea 89 occasions between 2016 and 2019.
Malaysia has six diplomatic protests into China, such as a in 2017 in answer to a Chinese notice claiming its own claim to this South Luconia Shoals.