uA Canadian helicopter was intercepted twice on Sunday by Chinese fighter jets, one of which “launched flares directly in front of the helicopter,” Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair revealed today during of a press conference.

These interceptions, which required a special maneuver by the pilot to avoid the rockets, “took place in the Paracel Islands”, in the South China Sea, “a good distance from the claimed territorial seas”.

“The maneuvers of the People’s Republic of China’s fighter jets were considered very dangerous and we will express our concerns to China,” the minister added.

The Canadian helicopter, deployed by national defense as part of the “Indo-Pacific strategy”, was carrying out “routine exercises”, according to a press release.

Blair said the flights served to “maintain freedom of navigation” in the “international waters” of this region off the Chinese coast.

This is the second aerial interception of Canada by Chinese planes in less than three weeks, after in mid-October a Canadian surveillance plane was intercepted in mid-flight by a Chinese fighter.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which constitutes an important crossroads of maritime routes through which billions of euros of trade pass each year.

Relations between the two countries have been difficult since Canada arrested the financial director of telecommunications giant Huawei five years ago at the request of the United States.

A few days later, two Canadians were arrested in China, a move widely seen as retaliation by Beijing.

Although these three people have since been released, tensions persist between the two countries, with Beijing criticizing Ottawa for its alignment with Washington’s China policy and Canadian authorities suspecting China of interference in their public affairs.

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