Beijing accuses Canada of jeopardizing 'Chinese sovereignty'

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing accused Canada on Wednesday of jeopardizing "Chinese sovereignty" by flying warplanes above waters near China, according to a media report.

The condemnation came in response to the repeated entry of a CP-140 warplane into the airspace above the Chiwei Islet, according to a statement from defense spokesman Senior Col. Wu Qian, the Daily China reported.

Canadian military authorities reported Monday that a Canadian surveillance plane encountered a Chinese warplane while on a mission in international airspace near China.

The Canadian defense chief criticized China's actions and labeled them as unacceptable, hazardous and reckless.

But Wu said a Canadian CP-140 aircraft made multiple incursions into airspace near China's Chiwei Islet, approached the coastal region of East China and entered the Taiwan Strait for purposes of reconnaissance and causing disturbance.

The Chiwei Islet is an island administratively linked to China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

"The hype made by Canada has ignored the facts and aims in an attempt to confuse international public opinion," Wu said, noting that "the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets are China's inherent territory."

"What the Canadian side has done seriously violated China's sovereignty and threatened China's national security, and is highly dangerous and vile, and extremely likely to lead to misunderstanding and miscalculation," he said.

"The Chinese side strongly condemns the Canadian actions and has lodged solemn representations with them,” he added.