Primarily based out of CFB Esquimalt , HMCS Ottawa has been deployed to the Indo-Pacific since August.
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A Canadian army helicopter connected to a frigate based mostly out of CFB Esquimalt has had two shut encounters with Chinese language fighter jets whereas conducting routine workouts within the South China Sea.
The Division of Nationwide Defence stated in a Friday assertion {that a} CH-148 Cyclone helicopter was intercepted by two J-11 fighter jets from the Folks’s Liberation Military whereas working in worldwide airspace on Oct. 29.
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Whereas the preliminary encounter was secure, subsequent Chinese language fighter jet manoeuvres got here shut sufficient to buffet the helicopter with turbulence.
The Division of Nationwide Defence additionally confirmed a report by CNN {that a} Chinese language J-11 fighter plane launched flares straight in entrance of HMCS Ottawa’s CH-148 Cyclone helicopter in a separate sortie that occurred later that day.
“The Canadian plane was topic to a number of close-proximity manoeuvres by a Folks’s Liberation Military J-11 fighter jet that put the protection of all personnel concerned at pointless danger,” the assertion learn. “The helicopter pilot needed to manoeuvre to keep away from the flares and cut back the danger of ingesting a flare into the helicopter’s rotor and intakes.”
No army personnel or tools was broken within the incident, and HMCS Ottawa shall be persevering with with its Indo-Pacific tour, stated the Division of Nationwide Defence.
On Wednesday, HMCS Ottawa handed by means of Taiwan Strait with U.S. warship USS Rafael Peralta with out incident.
Jim Boutilier, a former particular adviser at Canada’s Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters based mostly in Esquimalt, stated that shut encounters between Canadian and Chinese language army forces in worldwide waters is just not new. “That is very a lot a part of the panorama of the Western Pacific today.”
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“They seem to really feel that they’ll slowly put on down the opposition by fixed harassment and interference in authorized actions,” he stated. “There have been an rising variety of instances the place [Chinese military] plane have buzzed Western plane.”
Primarily based out of Esquimalt CFB, HMCS Ottawa has been deployed to the Indo-Pacific since August together with HMCS Vancouver as a part of Canada’s wider $2.3-billion Indo-Pacific technique to type nearer ties with nations within the area.
Warships have “develop into the coin of the realm” for nations seeking to set up their pursuits within the area, stated Boutilier, including that Indo-Pacific technique recommends that the Royal Canadian Navy preserve a three-ship presence within the area yearly.
“The Canadian navy would function with the Australian navy or go to Japan or South Korea, like-minded nations which are involved concerning the regular development of Chinese language maritime energy and Chinese language aggressiveness,” he stated.
Will Greaves, an affiliate professor of worldwide relations on the College of Victoria, stated there’s a “basic disagreement” unfolding within the South China Sea. “Canada’s place is that these are worldwide waters and that each one vessels have a proper to be there, together with Canada.”
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China, alternatively, claims the waters opposite to norms in worldwide regulation, he stated.
Victorians needs to be taking extra discover of the developments in East Asia because of the truth that Canada’s Pacific fleet relies out of Esquimalt, Greaves stated. “However then there’s additionally the home aspect, which is home interference by Chinese language officers in Canada — alleged intimidation of Chinese language Canadians all through B.C. by these Chinese language officers.”
“And that’s, at the very least partly, in response to Canada’s participation in these sorts of actions within the Asia Pacific.”
When requested concerning the incident on Friday, Chinese language International Minister Wang Wenbin stated at a daily media availability in Beijing that he hopes that Canada will “restrain its inappropriate behaviour to forestall additional complication of the state of affairs.”
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