KUALA LUMPUR: Wisma Putra will issue a diplomatic note of protest and summon China's ambassador to Malaysia after 16 aircraft from the People's Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF) entered Malaysian airspace on Monday.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he will seek an explanation from the ambassador regarding the breach of the Malaysian Maritime Zone (MMZ) and the country's sovereignty by the 16 PLAAF aircraft.
"I will also relay Malaysia's serious concern on the matter to my counterpart in China. Malaysia's stand is clear – having friendly diplomatic relations with any country does not mean that we will compromise our national security.
"Malaysia remains steadfast in defending our dignity and our sovereignty," he said in a statement.
Earlier, a spokesman from the Chinese embassy in Malaysia told the New Straits Times the Chinese military aircraft did not enter any country's territorial airspace and was on routine training while abiding to international laws.
Royal Malaysian Air Force chief General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad said RMAF had detected and intercepted 16 PLAAF aircraft which entered Malaysian airspace at 11.53am Monday.
RMAF continued with radar monitoring and several attempts were made to direct the PLAAF aircraft to contact KK FIR air traffic control, but the instructions were ignored.
Hawk 208 aircraft from the Labuan airbase were scrambled to intercept the Chinese aircraft, determining them to be Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20 transport aircraft, which are capable of performing various missions.