The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on&nbsp;Tuesday scrambled Hawk jets after it identified 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) planes heading towards its airspace.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-shandong-aircraft-carrier-conducts-military-exercise-in-south-china-sea-382412/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“The People’s Liberation Army Air Force(PLAAF) planes were put under continued radar surveillance and were instructed to contact controllers in the Kota Kinabalu FIR," the Malaysian Air Force said.

The jets were scrambled after the Malaysian Air Force detected the Chinese planes over its radar at Sarawak on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;

"When these instructions were not heeded and the PLAAF planes crossed Kota Kinabalu FIR and headed towards the national airspace, the Malaysia Air Force scrambled intercepting jets at 1:33 pm to perform a visual identification,” it added.

The Chinese jets were hovering&nbsp;off Malaysia's coast in the South China Sea which has several small islands with overlapping claims by several countries including Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam.&nbsp;

China claims the territory as its own even as the United States on several occasions has sent warships to the South China Sea which has often resulted in a strong reaction from China.

“As a result of the air interception carried out, the RMAF has identified the aircraft as Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20 aircraft," it said.

The RMAF said the Chinese aircraft identified by its forces are "strategic transport aircraft" capable of performing various missions.

"This incident is a serious matter that threatens national sovereignty and aviation safety, based on the density of air traffic in the airline routes in Kota Kinabalu FIR," the RMAF asserted.

The Chinese planes eventually did not enter Malayasia's airspace even as it put the Hawk jets on high alert.

(With inputs from Agencies)

 
&nbsp;

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on Tuesday scrambled Hawk jets after it identified 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) planes heading towards its airspace.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) on Tuesday scrambled Hawk jets after it identified 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) planes heading towards its airspace. Watch: “The People’s Liberation Army Air Force(PLAAF) planes were put under continued radar surveillance and were instructed to contact controllers in the Kota Kinabalu FIR," the Malaysian Air Force said. The jets were scrambled after the Malaysian Air Force detected the Chinese planes over its radar at Sarawak on Tuesday morning. "When these instructions were not heeded and the PLAAF planes crossed Kota Kinabalu FIR and headed towards the national airspace, the Malaysia Air Force scrambled intercepting jets at 1:33 pm to perform a visual identification,” it added. The Chinese jets were hovering off Malaysia's coast in the South China Sea which has several small islands with overlapping claims by several countries including Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam. China claims the territory as its own even as the United States on several occasions has sent warships to the South China Sea which has often resulted in a strong reaction from China. “As a result of the air interception carried out, the RMAF has identified the aircraft as Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20 aircraft," it said. The RMAF said the Chinese aircraft identified by its forces are "strategic transport aircraft" capable of performing various missions. "This incident is a serious matter that threatens national sovereignty and aviation safety, based on the density of air traffic in the airline routes in Kota Kinabalu FIR," the RMAF asserted. The Chinese planes eventually did not enter Malayasia's airspace even as it put the Hawk jets on high alert. (With inputs from Agencies)

Malaysia scrambles jets to intercept Chinese planes in South China Sea

Malaysia's maritime authorities said on Saturday they had detained 60 Chinese nationals and six Chinese-registered fishing vessels they said were trespassing into the Southeast Asian country's waters.

Malaysia&nbsp;reported 89 intrusions by Chinese coastguard and navy ships between 2016 and 2019, amid escalating tensions between the United States and China over Beijing's claims to most of the resource-rich South China Sea, which is also a major trade route.

The&nbsp;Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said the fishing vessels and crew were detained in an operation off the coast of the southern state of Johor on Friday.

"Further checks found that all the vessels registered in Qinhuangdao, China, were manned by six captains and 54 crew who are Chinese nationals aged between 31 and 60 years," MMEA regional director Mohd Zulfadli Nayan said in a statement.

The MMEA said the vessels, which had no cargo when detained, were believed to have been en route to Mauritania but had to stop due to some malfunction.

Earlier this year, a Chinese research ship spent a month surveying in&nbsp;Malaysia's exclusive economic zone, amid a standoff with a&nbsp;Malaysian oil exploration vessel near disputed waters.

Malaysia's maritime authorities said on Saturday they had detained 60 Chinese nationals and six Chinese-registered fishing vessels they said were trespassing into the Southeast Asian country's waters.

Malaysia's maritime authorities said on Saturday they had detained 60 Chinese nationals and six Chinese-registered fishing vessels they said were trespassing into the Southeast Asian country's waters. Malaysia reported 89 intrusions by Chinese coastguard and navy ships between 2016 and 2019, amid escalating tensions between the United States and China over Beijing's claims to most of the resource-rich South China Sea, which is also a major trade route. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said the fishing vessels and crew were detained in an operation off the coast of the southern state of Johor on Friday. "Further checks found that all the vessels registered in Qinhuangdao, China, were manned by six captains and 54 crew who are Chinese nationals aged between 31 and 60 years," MMEA regional director Mohd Zulfadli Nayan said in a statement. The MMEA said the vessels, which had no cargo when detained, were believed to have been en route to Mauritania but had to stop due to some malfunction. Earlier this year, a Chinese research ship spent a month surveying in Malaysia's exclusive economic zone, amid a standoff with a Malaysian oil exploration vessel near disputed waters.

Malaysia detains Chinese vessels for trespassing in territorial waters

malaysia-china

Malaysia China, News on Malaysia China, stories on Malaysia China, articles on Malaysia China, Malaysia China stories at Wion, Malaysia China news, Malaysia China latest news

malaysia china

Malaysia scrambles jets to intercept Chinese planes in South China Sea

Malaysia detains Chinese vessels for trespassing in territorial waters