Malaysia to Summon Chinese Envoy Over ‘Suspicious’ Air Force Activity

A Xian Y-20 heavy transport aircraft flies past during the Zhuhai Air Show in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong province on Nov. 1, 2016. STR/AFP via Getty Images

KUALA LUMPUR—The foreign ministry of Malaysia on Tuesday said it would summon China’s envoy to explain an “intrusion” by 16 air force planes into its airspace, after the Southeast Asian country’s military detected “suspicious” activity over the South China Sea.

Malaysia’s air force said it scrambled jets on Monday to conduct visual confirmation after the planes flew within 60 nautical miles off Sarawak state of Malaysian Borneo.