This handout photo from the Royal Malaysian Air Force, taken on May 31, 2021 and released on June 1, 2021, shows a Chinese air force Ilyushin Il-76 plane which, Malaysian authorities say, was in the airspace over Malaysia’s maritime zone near the coast of Sarawak state on Borneo Island.
Handout/Royal Malaysian Air Force
Malaysia said Tuesday it would issue a diplomatic protest to Beijing after 16 Chinese military planes “intruded” into its maritime airspace over disputed South China Sea waters near Borneo Island a day earlier.
Malaysian officials said that the Chinese aircraft flew to as close as 60 nautical miles from Kuala Lumpur-administered Beting Patinggi Ali – also known as Luconia Shoals – which Beijing, too, claims as part of its territories in the maritime region.