June 6 (UPI) -- China on Monday slammed Canada's "risky and provocative" aircraft patrols near North Korea and warned of "serious consequences" in the aftermath of complaints from Ottawa about Beijing's aggressive behavior in the skies.
"Canadian military planes have stepped up reconnaissance and provocations against China under the pretext of implementing U.N. Security Council resolutions, endangering China's national security and endangering the safety of frontline personnel on both sides," Wu Qian, spokesman for China's defense ministry, said in a statement.
Wu's remarks came after Canada last week accused the Chinese Air Force of harassing its pilots as they conducted patrols in international airspace near North Korea to monitor for U.N. sanctions violations.
Ottawa said that Chinese jets repeatedly buzzed Canadian aircraft, coming so close that the aircrews could see each other and forcing Royal Canadian Air Force pilots to change course to avoid a collision.
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