CHINA-MALAYSIA: 16 PLAAF AIRCRAFT IN TACTICAL FORMATION FLEW INTO MALAYSIA'S EEZ NEAR THE SOUTH LUCONIA SHOALS ON MAY 31
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On the afternoon of May 31, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flew 16 aircraft consisting of Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20 multi-role airlifters over Malaysian maritime zone airspace close to Sarawak. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) said a squadron of PLAAF aircraft flew in tactical formation and passed close to South Luconia Shoals, which is administered by Malaysia and lies inside Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but is claimed by China as part of its expansive “nine-dash line” claim. RMAF ground controllers contacted the PLAAF aircraft for identification and intent of flight but received no response, which prompted the RMAF to scramble Hawk 208 light combat aircraft (LCA) to intercept and visually identify the aircraft. Once intercepted by the RMAF LCAs, the PLAAF aircraft turned and flew out. Observers assess this latest “buzzing” of Malaysia’s air defences by the PLAAF is possibly intended to test the country’s air defence response and gather electronic intelligence, such as the RMAF’s radar signature and scrambling time. It may also be linked to its strategy of asserting its control over almost the entirety of South China Sea.
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