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| Australian PM Accuses China of 'Intimidation' After Laser Aimed at Patrol Aircraft |
International Military - Australian diplomats and defense personnel demanded answers from China after a Chinese Navy ship aimed a military-grade laser at an Australian Air Force (RAAF) reconnaissance aircraft.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government had made a formal statement with their Chinese counterparts over the incident, which he described as an "act of intimidation". "I see it as an act of intimidation, unwarranted. And Australia would never accept such an act," Morrison said.
"I have no doubt that if it happened to the Chinese reconnaissance plane then one can guess how they would react. This is a reckless and irresponsible act," he added. The incident occurred at 12:35 last Thursday. As the Luyang-class guided-missile destroyer sails through the Arafura Sea, which lies between the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea.
Australian aircraft carry out reconnaissance as a standard form of surveillance of ships entering the country's exclusive economic zone. One of the two Chinese warships sailing in the area is suspected of shining a light on a P-8A Poseidon aircraft belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Australian Defense Force (ADF) has seen the two Chinese vessels six times in five days, including south of Indonesia's Java island, in the Timor and Arafura seas and eventually traveled through the Torres Strait, according to storyboards.
Read Also: Australia Claims Chinese Warship Fired Laser At P-8A Poseidon On Patrol
Not the first time, In 2020, the US Navy also accused China of firing military-grade lasers at P-8 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Pacific.
The P-8A Poseidon is a multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft used by the US Navy for Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and humanitarian response operations.
The second incident occurred in 2018, the incident occurred in Djibouti, an East African country where the US and China have military posts. The Chinese military stationed in Djibouti is accused by US officials of injuring US pilots with lasers fired at US C-130J aircraft.
What is a laser attack?
Lasers are used to track the range of a potential target before the weapon is fired at it.
They are widely used in military drills when missiles and other weapons hit mock targets. Military grade laser beams also known as "dazzlers", create light that can travel great distances. Used to temporarily blind pilots by illuminating the cockpit of an aircraft.
Laser-based unguided energy weapons have a low cost per shot and virtually unlimited magazines. Making lasers an efficient and effective way to defend against missile or drone attacks.
According to experts, laser weapons can change the pattern of "game" in future battles. Eurasiantimes said that the use of these weapons was regulated by the United Nations which issued a protocol on laser weapons that can blind in 1995. And it entered into force in July 1998.
The policy was confirmed by 108 countries in April 2018. The convention prohibits the use of laser weapons specifically designed to cause permanent blindness as their only or one of their combat roles.