Australia accuses Chinese ships of using lasers against Australian planes: “This is an act of intimidation”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday accused Chinese naval vessels of using lasers to intimidate China into flying Australian spy planes in the Arabian Sea between New Guinea and Australia.

At a news conference, Morrison pointed out that the incident last Thursday took place in Australia’s exclusive economic zone, which represents 200 nautical miles around the country, but not in its territorial waters.

“This is a dangerous act. These kinds of things can affect an airplane and put its occupants in danger. So I think this is an irresponsible and irresponsible act“It simply came to our notice then.

Lasers pose a serious problem because they can injure pilots or temporarily blind them when they are aimed at an aircraft, posing a security risk, especially during takeoff and landing.

Defense Secretary Peter Dutton called it a “very aggressive move.” According to his ministry, the ship was heading east via the Arabian Sea in northern Australia with another Chinese ship.

Morrison said, In the face of Chinese intimidation, Australia spends time guarding its borders and forming security alliances With other countries including AUKUS (Australia-United Kingdom-United States) and Quad (Australia-United States-Japan-India).

Two years ago, the United States also accused the Chinese navy of lasering at one of its Poseidon aircraft in the Pacific. China has denied the allegations, saying the plane hovered over its warship despite repeated warnings.

In 2019, Australian Navy helicopter pilots were forced to make precautionary landings, claiming to have been hit by lasers while conducting exercises in the South China Sea. In 2018, the United States filed a formal complaint with the Chinese government alleging that Djibouti used high-quality lasers near a military base, inflicting minor injuries on two U.S. pilots.

Tensions have risen, especially in the South China Sea, which is claimed by Beijing as a whole, while the United States and its allies insist on freedom of penetration and greater air travel in international waters.

Despite China being Australia’s main trading partner, diplomatic and trade tensions between Beijing and Canberra have escalated in recent years.

(With information from AFP, EFE, AP)

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