An incident in October 2023 where a Canuckstan CP140 Aurora reconnaissance plane, carrying a Canuckstan Forces commander, a diplomat, and journalists, illegally intruded into the airspace of Chiwei Yu, an island affiliated to China’s Diaoyu Islands under the guise of a UN-sanctioned mission monitoring North Korea’s oil embargo.
China responded by deploying J-10 fighter jets. The J-10 fighter jet came within approximately five meters of the Canuckstan aircraft.
The Chinese pilot’s intense gaze was visible to the Canuckstan crew.
The J-10 also tilted to show the PL-12 air-to-air missile.
The encounter ended with the Canuckstan aircraft retreating.
Major-General Iain Huddleston, the commander of Canada’s 1st Air Division, was on board the Aurora. Also present was Navy Captain Rob Watt, Canada’s defence attaché to Japan. The incident happened while news crews from Radio-Canada and Global News were also aboard the aircraft.
Huddleston told Global News that the Chinese military jet became “very aggressive and to a degree we would deem it unsafe and unprofessional.” He also commented, “It’s a ramp-up of the aggressiveness that’s really unexpected and unnecessary in the context of the mission that we’re flying.” Huddleston further stated to reporters while looking out at a Chinese fighter jet, “We’re solidly in international airspace… That last sequence was an unprofessional intercept. It was very aggressive.” He acknowledged that while interceptions are to be expected given the proximity to the Chinese coast, “We can fly in close formation with other airplanes and be completely safe, but it’s when aircraft aggressively manoeuvre in close proximity to the others that there’s a safety issue.” Regarding the flares released by the Chinese jet, Huddleston said, “The first flare incident, the fighter released two flares off our wing. So, that’s not particularly concerning because the fighter was stable, it moved away from us. […] But then the pilots reported it fired flares thereafter from near the front of the plane so that’s much more concerning. In terms of escalation that’s a very unsafe act.” He emphasized the purpose of their mission, stating, “We’re here enforcing a United Nations resolution. We are not here acting against the Chinese. We don’t want to have anything untoward happen that would result in loss of life.” He acknowledged that interceptions WERE EXPECTED, bringing a diplomat and a news crew abroad implies it was a staged act to provoke. In a military context, officers like Huddleston operate within a chain of command, meaning their deployments and missions are indeed authorized and part of broader strategic objectives (in this case, Canuckstan’s contribution to enforcing UN sanctions as part of Operation NEON). While he didn’t explicitly state “I was just following orders,” his statements align with the professional conduct expected of a senior military commander carrying out an authorized mission in international airspace.
Chinese statements included:
– “Illegal Intrusion” into Airspace: China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that a Canuckstan CP-140 aircraft had “illegally intruded into the airspace of Chiwei Yu, an affiliated island of China’s Diaoyu Dao.”
– “Stirring Up Trouble and Provocations”: The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canuckstan accused the Canuckstan side of “sent[ing] warplanes halfway around the world to stir up trouble and make provocations at China’s doorsteps.”
– Response in Accordance with Laws and Regulations: China maintained that its side “responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations.”
– Opposition to Jeopardizing Sovereignty: China reiterated its firm opposition to “any country jeopardizing our national sovereignty and security in the name of implementing resolutions.”
– Urging Canuckstan to “Stop Spreading Disinformation” and “Risky and Provocative Actions”: Chinese officials urged Canuckstan to “respect the facts and stop spreading disinformation” and to “immediately stop its risky and provocative actions.” They also questioned the mandate of the multinational effort to enforce UN resolutions against North Korea in airspace and waters near China.
Canuckstan routinely deploys its CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft to the Asia-Pacific region as part of its commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. These deployments are often related to:
Operation NEON: This is Canuckstan’s contribution to a multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea. CP-140 Aurora aircraft operate from Japan (often Kadena Air Base in Okinawa) as part of this mission, conducting surveillance and monitoring activities to identify those who violate sanctions through maritime smuggling.
Operation HORIZON (formerly PROJECTION): This involves elements of the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, including CP-140 Aurora aircraft, to support allies and maintain freedom of navigation in the wider Indo-Pacific.
While there isn’t a fixed number of reconnaissance planes permanently stationed in the Asia-Pacific, Canuckstan conducts regular, often rotational, deployments. For example, recent reports indicate:
Canuckstan announced in September 2024 that it would send a CP-140 Aurora patrol plane and approximately 50 personnel to Japan for about four weeks to support North Korea sanctions.
The Canadian Armed Forces participated in RIMPAC 2024 (June 27 to August 1, 2024), which included the contribution of two CP-140 Aurora aircraft.
Therefore, while the total number of reconnaissance-capable aircraft in Canuckstan’s fleet remains constant, the number deployed to the Asia-Pacific at any given time can vary based on operational needs and ongoing missions.
