The Royal Malaysian Air Force scrambled its interceptors against a formation of 16 Chinese military aircraft “flying suspiciously” near Beting Patinggi Ali (Luconia Shoals) in an incident yesterday.
In a statement today, the Air Force said the interception was made after the formation was seen approaching Malaysia’s airspace but failed to follow instructions to make contact with air traffic controllers in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
“As a result of the interception, the Air Force identified the aircraft as Ilyushin Il-76 and a Xi’an Y-20. These are strategic transport aircraft capable of performing various missions.
“This incident is a very serious threat to our national sovereignty and aviation security due to the density of air traffic in the airways of the Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Region (FIR),” the Air Force said.
It said the interception was made in accordance with laws and regulations under the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the National Air Defence Strategy.
It added that the Foreign Ministry was aware of the incident.
According to the Air Force, the China People’s Liberation Army Air Force (Plaaf) formation came within 60 nautical miles (111km) of the coast of Sarawak.
They were first observed entering Singapore's FIR at 11.53am yesterday via the Air Force's radar station in Sarawak before changing direction to the airspace near Beting Patinggi Ali.
The Air Force said the 16 aircraft were flying in the "in-trail" formation with one aircraft following the next along the same path, spaced about 60 nautical miles (111 km) from one another at 290 knots (537kph) with an altitude of between 23,000 and 27,000 feet (7.0 to 8.2km).
Malaysia and China both claim the Shoals to be part of their maritime territory. China’s claims are not internationally recognised.
“Monitoring the aircraft through air defence radar continued along with several attempts to order them to contact the Kota Kinabalu FIR air traffic controllers.
“When the order was not followed and they were seen crossing the Kota Kinabalu FIR borders and headed towards national airspace, the Air Force launched interceptors at 1.33pm to make visual identification,” the Air Force said.
The interceptors were Hawk 208 aircraft from the Air Force No 6 Squadron based at the Labuan Airbase and which had been placed on standby upon detection of the incoming Plaaf aircraft.
The incident is only the latest in the military stand-off around Beting Patinggi Ali.
Last year, Malaysiakini reported that the China coastguard had maintained a near-constant presence in Malaysian waters there.
In an immediate response, the Pakatan Harapan Security Committee urged Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to hold a bipartisan briefing to explain the government's next steps in response to the incident and the armed force’s requirements for preventing further incursions.
It said it would write a letter to Ismail to ask for the briefing to be held together with the chief of armed forces and the Air Force general to face the national sovereignty challenge together.
“This incident shows that although the world is beset by the Covid-19 pandemic, conventional threats are still a thorn in the nation’s side.
“Therefore, it is imperative for the government to implement the Armed Forces’ modernisation programme in line with the 2019 Defence Whitepaper immediately,” the committee said in a statement today.
The statement was jointly issued by former defence minister Mohamad Sabu, his former deputy Liew Chin Tong, and Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul. - Mkini
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