Question Period Note: People’s Liberation Army Air Force “Buzzing” Royal Canadian Air Force Aircraft

Why isn’t this Government addressing Chinese aggression when their fighter aircraft have been endangering the lives of deployed Canadian Armed Forces personnel?

• Canada is committed to supporting multinational efforts to monitor UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

• Our top priority in all operations is to ensure the safety of Canadian Armed Forces personnel.

• We are concerned with the increasing frequency of the unsafe actions of Chinese aircraft, which do not adhere to international air safety norms and put the safety of Canadian personnel at risk.

• We are working closely with Global Affairs Canada and we are addressing our concerns through defence and diplomatic channels.

• Canada will continue working with our Allies and partners to uphold the rules-based international order.

Quick Facts

Operation NEON:

• Op NEON is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea.

• April 23, 2021: Canada announced the renewal of its contribution to the multinational surveillance initiative, for another two year timeframe until 2023, under Operation NEON to counter North Korea’s maritime sanctions evasion.

• Canadian Armed Forces members participate in this operation alongside countries including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Air Detachment Support to Operation NEON:

• The Air Detachment (i.e. CP-140 Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft) commenced flight operations on 26 April, 2022 and ceased operations on 26 May, 2022.

Interactions with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Aircraft

• On several occasions, interactions occurred between our Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft and aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

• These interactions, occurred in international airspace during UN-sanctioned missions.

Background

Operation NEON

• Op NEON is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea. These sanctions, imposed between 2006 and 2017, aim to pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and respond to North Korean nuclear weapon tests and ballistic missile launches.

• Op NEON sees military ships, aircraft and personnel deployed to conduct surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. This contribution bolsters the integrity of the global sanctions regime against North Korea, enhances regional peace and stability, and supports the rules-based international order.

• Past deployments:

  • August 2021 – HMCS Winnipeg deployed with a CP-140 Aurora

  • October 2020 – HMCS Winnipeg deployed with a CP-140 Aurora

  • September 2019 – HMCS Ottawa deployed with a CP-140 Aurora

  • June 2019 – HMCS Regina and Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix deployed with a CP-140 Aurora

  • October 2018* – HMCS Calgary deployed with a CP-140 Aurora

  • May 2018* – HMCS Vancouver deployed with a CP-140 Aurora

*Prior to 2019, these activities were conducted under Operation PROJECTION.

Multilateral Efforts

• During the January 2018 Vancouver Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula, Canada and other partners committed to:

  • work collectively, with partners in the region and globally, to ensure effective implementation of UNSC sanctions on North Korea;

  • share information with partners and with the UN Panel of Experts responsible for sanctions related to North Korea, in order to combat sanctions evasion; and,

  • counter North Korea’s maritime smuggling in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions.

Responsible Principals: Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy), Strategic Joint Staff.