China, Vietnam in war of words over Chinese test flight in SCS

China on Thursday dismissed Vietnam’s accusation over test landing of Chinese flights at a newly- built airport on a reclaimed island in the disputed South China Sea that threatened civilian traffic, in fresh war of words over the strategic area.

“China is shocked and confused by Vietnam’s argument that its flights threatened civilian air traffic,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing here.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said in a statement on Tuesday that the notification from the Chinese Embassy “cannot substitute China’s notification to the appropriate air traffic services units of Vietnam in order to ensure the safety and regularity of flight operations”.

But, Hong rejected Vietnam’s accusation that China did not inform the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam of its test flights and threatened the safety of civil aviation, saying that besides the notifications by competent authorities, China also made specific contact with Vietnam’s diplomatic authorities on December 30 for technical notification and explanation.

Due to unreasonable obstruction from the Vietnamese side, China ultimately decided to turn the flights into a state aviation activity and sent civilian planes to complete the flights, he said.