A Chinese navy vessel directed a laser at an Australian military aircraft in flight over Australia’s northern approaches, illuminating the plane and potentially endangering lives, the Australian Department of Defence said yesterday.
The P-8A Poseidon — a maritime patrol aircraft — detected a laser emanating from a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel, the department said in a statement.
“Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident,” the department said. “Acts like this have the potential to endanger lives. We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct.”
Photo: Reuters / U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel J. Meshel
The Chinese vessel was sailing east with another navy ship through the Arafura Sea at the time of the incident, the department said.
The sea lies between the north coast of Australia and the south coast of New Guinea.
The department said that both ships have since transited through the Torres Strait and were in the Coral Sea.
Relations between Australia and China, its top trade partner, soured after Canberra in 2018 banned Chinese electronics maker Huawei Technologies from its 5G broadband network, toughened laws against foreign political interference and urged an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
The latest laser incident came after Chinese maritime militia vessels initiated a series of laser attacks on Australian pilots while flying over international waters in the South China Sea, which China almost exclusively claims for itself, a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.
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