Canada says ‘unprofessional’ Chinese pilots may cause shootout

• The Canadian Armed Forces complain that PLA aircraft forced Canadian jets to change course while they were conducting UN-sanctioned operations
• They say the Chinese pilots ‘did not adhere to international safety norms’ during a series of encounters in international air space

Canada’s military has accused Chinese air force pilots of unprofessional and risky behaviour during their recent encounters in international airspace.

The Canadian aircraft involved were deployed in Japan as part of a multinational effort to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea, which has faced international penalties over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programme.

The Canadian Armed Forces said on Wednesday that People’s Liberation Army Air Force “did not adhere to international air safety norms” on several occasions.