South China Sea: Malaysia scrambles jets to intercept 16 Chinese military planes | South China Morning Post

Malaysia's air force has said it scrambled jets to intercept 16 Chinese military aircraft that entered airspace administered by Malaysia near the state of Sabah on Monday, warning that the manoeuvre was tantamount to a "serious threat on national sovereignty and aviation safety". China's controversial nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea stretches well into waters off the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. The Southeast Asian nation and other counter-claimants against Beijing in the sea dispute deem China's claims to be illegal under international law. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF)…